TeamFAME Kicks Off New School Year
The colder days have not stopped the TeamFAME students from heating up on and off the tennis court! This fall marks the sixth year of programming as TeamFAME welcomed a new class of 5th graders, as well as many returning students.
Students have been hitting their strides on and off the court. In tennis, students have been improving their game and becoming increasingly ready for upcoming match play opportunities. Each week, students are taught a new “tennis focus”, which combines drills, point play, and fun engaging games throughout the week. For students craving more time on the court, TeamFAME is continuing to offer extra tennis opportunities including weekend match play, and morning tennis before school. This year, in order to increase accessibility and engagement, these extra tennis program invitations have been expanded to include all students who are meeting academic expectations.
Off the court, TeamFAME staff have been working closely with Newport’s Thompson Middle School on aligning curriculum, providing tutoring services, and collaborating with teachers to meet individual student needs. TeamFAME works to instill the importance of being a student-athlete, and emphasize that "student" comes first. As a result, students have been developing work habits that include skills in executive function and organization, math and reading, and communication and leadership skills.
To increase our social emotional learning support, this fall marks the beginning of TeamFAME’s official partnership with Island Youth Coaching. Through fun and engaging lessons, students are learning to develop coping strategies and ways to manage the stressors that come with middle school. Students will continue to benefit from sessions taking place twice a month throughout the school year.
TeamFAME has also been continuing its educational sustainability efforts. Last month, students explored Ocean Hour Sustainability Farm in Newport. Navigating the farm through a scavenger hunt, students learned about many of the sustainable efforts that the farm has to offer including harvesting wool from sheep, gathering eggs from the henhouse, and exploring a water filtration system through a kettle pond.
TeamFAME graduates have also been making significant strides through community service projects, internships, playing high school tennis, and mentoring the younger students. Several of the graduates have been giving back by volunteering with the 5th grade class after school at TeameFAME.
The Rogers High School Girls Tennis Team had another successful season, making it to the state playoffs. Coming off a successful season, the eight TeamFAMErs who played for Rogers took part in a mentorship program with members of the Salve Regina women’s tennis team. The first meeting of 2023 was a huge success with mentors/mentees participating in a “live ball” tennis clinic followed by an inspiring conversation.
