March Madness is a month of frenzied excitement for college basketball fans, when teams battle it out for the coveted title of being the nation’s best squad. Some of that madness is being recreated in a unique program at a middle school in Rockland County.
At the Chestnut Ridge Middle School in the East Ramapo Central School District, The students participate in a one day tournament that begins on March 23, 2016. Chestnut Ridge implemented a program that will not only allow students to learn, but also engages in an intriguing basketball league that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Students are divided into teams representing colleges. One team will be named St. Johns, another Duke, etc. Sonia Saravia remembers how effective this strategy is, “When students find out the name of the team that they are on they rush to learn everything about that school.”
“The very thing that excited kids and motivated them to come to school, was stripped away from them.”
The school’s March Madness program grew out of a need to replace activities that were cut because of budget problems. “Everything, including football, baseball, soccer and basketball were cut – just to name a few,” said Sonia Saravia, a Spanish teacher at the school. “The very thing that excited kids and motivated them to come to school, was stripped away from them.”
She added: “Chestnut Ridge is a public school made up of primarily African American and Hispanic students. Eighty-two percent of our students receive free or reduced meals due to their low socioeconomic status. Eighty-two percent of our building is on the poverty level and some are even homeless. These students come to school as an escape from their daily hardships.”
Of course, stripping these activities not only affects students, but the teachers as well. Growing up, Saravia knew her passion was in education, “I have always wanted to be a teacher since as long as I can remember. I looked up to my teachers growing up as positive people who had the power to influence kids and motivate them to do something positive in their lives. That’s who I wanted to be and that’s who I drive myself to be every day. I give my all in everything that I do and I love it.”
Budget cuts didn’t stop Chestnut Ridge from implementing a program that will allow students to learn, but also engage in an intriguing basketball league that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Students are divided into teams representing colleges. One team will be named St. Johns, another Duke, etc. Sonia remembers how effective this strategy is, “When students find out the name of the team that they are on they rush to learn everything about that school.”
There is a halftime show, cheerleaders, coaches, referees and staff even produced a commercial. Sonia reached out to these colleges and other organizations for support, “I threw my Hail Mary and wrote emails to the colleges that were picked for the tournament (we picked teams in the NCAA March Madness). Every time we received a package the kids would run to the main office to pick it up. They felt like someone out there actually cared about them enough to think of them and send them something.”
Sonia believes the best part of March Madness is how students learn about college, “The kids were talking about the colleges and were learning about how colleges can change your life. It opened their eyes to the options that are out there for them and taught them that they shouldn’t ever give up on their dreams.”
Some Chestnut Ridge students such as, Rickey McGill and the McCourty twins go on to be successful at the collegiate and professional level. Sonia states, “These are just a few from many who have used sports as a vehicle to further their education in college. I hope that March Madness will continue to evolve to become something life changing and motivating. I hope that we can inspire our students to keep pushing because the ends will justify the means and that they are all capable of achieving whatever they want to do in life as long as they apply themselves. We will continue to make this event better and better with each year and with the support of organizations like the Knicks, we can continue to do so.”