Tabb Wins BayPort Holiday Basketball Tournament

I figure that it might be proper to finish 2012 by posting the last two articles I wrote for the DAILY PRESS in 2012. Over the past couple of nights, four local teams gathered for a basketball tournament in Yorktown. Tabb HS emerged as the winner, and here are the links for the articles which appeared on Friday, Dec. 28 and today, the 29th.

Day 1: 

Poquoson, Tabb boys advance to BayPort Holiday Tournament title game


http://www.dailypress.com/sports/highschool/breaking/dp-spt-tabb-boys-tournament-1228-20121227,0,7915690.story

Day 2:

Tabb wins own tournament, 50-44 over Poquoson


http://www.dailypress.com/sports/highschool/breaking/dp-spt-tabb-boys-tournament-1229-20121228,0,636595.story


Peninsula Catholic Girls CC Repeat as State Independent Champs: Harpen wins TCIS and VISAA Boys titles


Bolstered by the late season return of last year’s Daily Press Runner of the Year Martine Hunnicutt, the Peninsula Catholic girls’ cross-country team returned to the site of its greatest team victory, Woodberry Forest School, in early November and successfully defended its VISAA Division 2 title.

The Lady Knights tallied 76 team points to finish 22 ahead of local rival Walsingham. Hunnicutt, who was hampered by injuries earlier in the fall, took fourth place (20:55) to lead the way. The team was helped by the pack running style of its other runners, a strategy which helped them to achieve runner-up status in the earlier TCIS championship. Becky Aungst (12th  - 21:51.23) and Molly McKenna (13th – 21:53.13) ran a strong second and third for Peninsula Catholic, while Grace Miner and Jessica Armstrong rounded out the top five.
Now in her 18th year at the helm of the PC girls program, Coach Susan Bender attributed her team’s success to their ability to “tighten up the pack,” in essence, closing the gap between their second and fifth runners. Because of the way it’s scored, in a championship style meet, the success of the fourth and fifth fastest team finishers can affect the team score more than the performances of the top runners.

The girls’ team was not alone in their post-season success. The boys squad, led by Philip Harpen and Kevin Riley, took the top team honors at the TCIS meet, while placing second in the VISAA Division 2 championships.

Harpen took the top individual honors in both races. His time of 16:19.95 at TCIS easily outpaced his competition, with Riley taking third, helping PC to a narrow 62-64 victory over Norfolk Academy. At VISAA, Harpen traveled over the rolling hills of Woodberry Forest’s 5,000-meter course in 16:52.54, with Riley in fourth. The Knights team score of 143 was far short of first place Veritas Christian of Richmond who totaled 42, but still resulted in a second place finish of the 29 full teams represented.

Season's Greetings!!!!


Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the “Wall!!”

I did send this message via e-mail today. My apologies 1) if you did not receive one - just means I don't have your e-mail address and 2) if you received duplicates :)

I didn’t pull a Humpty Dumpty and fall off the wall; however, I haven’t sent a message out in quite a while. No reason for this, just staying busy with some other things.

Best news – Elizabeth is almost finished with her Master’s degree in Special Education and spent part of her summer as an Oxford scholar. Yes, the one in England!

There are some other great things on the horizon.

First of all, as noted in an earlier post, I am back in the coaching arena after a three-year layoff, now with girls’ cross-country and working with the younger track athletes (officially, I’m the throwing coach) on the Menchville HS team here in Newport News. It is much fun to be back and it looks like the saying is true that “you always go back to what you love.”

Still doing some writing with the DAILY PRESS. There have been ample opportunities to work on community sports features for the Thursday Town Square section, either with Newport News, Hampton, Gloucester, or York County/Poquoson. It has been interesting just because of the wide range of stories – karate, bowling, even covered the winner of a fishing tournament. This week, I’m working on a story about an up-and-coming youth wrestling team which just started in Newport News. Look for it soon, probably the first Thursday after the New Year.

Staying with track, there might be another big opportunity in the works here. There is a new movement called TrackNation. You can find it on Facebook, where over 64,000 people have already “liked” it. Part of their vision is going to include publishing a magazine, which will be called TRACKSIDE. There is already some major corporate sponsorship behind the effort. The good news is that I may be doing some writing for the magazine. Had a great (almost two hour) talk with the editor last Saturday and he showed me the business plan and magazine ideas. WOW!! This movement is surely going to blow up the track world, mainly because with an online presence, it will bring out the “worldwide community” feel for the sport, bringing everyone together. Listening to the names rattled off as magazine contributors and potential article features was like listening to a “Who’s Who” of track. In fact, here’s his quote,  “Ok. Well Greg Foster, John Carlos, Tommie Smith, Bob Beamon, Justin Gatlin, etc are all waiting on your call.More to come.

Also, while in the middle of doctoral comps and having some time, I’m getting ready to collaborate with one of my professors from William and Mary on an article on creativity and at-risk students. Dr. Kyung-Hee Kim has already conducted some eye opening research on the topic, drawing worldwide attention from publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, The Metro World News (England). Superinteressante (Brazil), Periodista La Tercera (Chile), Korrespondent (Ukraine), the Globe and Mail (Canada). Her work was notably featured in a cover story for the June 19, 2011 issue of Newsweek.

Thank you for reading the Wall at http://jfmcgrath.blogspot.com. Many blessings to you and yours this holiday season.      ---  Jim   

HRA's Marston Wins Virginia HS Heisman


Original version of article published in Daily Press Newport News Town Square section on November 30, 2012. For more information, please visit www.dailypress.com or www.hrvarsity.com.

Geoffrey Marston of Hampton Roads Academy was recently honored with one of high schools highest awards of athletic distinction. In early November, the senior swimmer was selected as the Virginia State Winner of the 2012 Wendy’s High School Heisman award.

As the name suggests, the award is given in conjunction with the Heisman Trophy, college football’s most distinguished honor. And the competition is almost as fierce. Over 45,000 applicants started the process, working through a rigorous elimination system beginning at the school level, one which resulted in 100 winners - one male and female winner from each state.

The high school program, now in its 19th year, celebrates the hard work, dedication and exceptional records in athletics, academics and community leadership. Spokesman Archie Griffin, a two-time winner of the collegiate Heisman said, “Colleges want well-rounded students, and with admissions being more selective, a national award like the Wendy’s High School Heisman can really help students stand out. Geoffrey and Caroline (Brailsford, the girls state winner) are inspirations to others in their school and community, and we’re honored to welcome them into the Heisman family.

As noted in its literature, the award has set the standard for high school student-athletes and gained prestige among colleges and universities nationwide. From listening to Marston and his swim coach and teachers at HRA, it becomes apparent that he is indeed a worthy recipient.

Mrs. Rebecca Deeley, Marston’s AP Environmental Science teacher, commented on her student’s influence on his classmates. “Geoff is remarkable in the way he raises the level of the game. He’s proactive, he’s engaged, and informed, which brings the rest of the class up.” In an interesting twist, she adds, “When we do labs or group projects, he doesn’t always pick another “A” student to work with. He finds someone that might not have the best grade in the class, and that way, they both earn “A’s.” For their current project, the class is working with the growth of a pet lunar moth, and are awaiting its emergence from the cocoon to occur “any day.”

Navigator swim coach Jeff Scott has spent more time with Marston, working with the versatile swimmer for “about six or seven years, beginning with the Coast Guard (club team).” Now in his third year as coach at HRA, Scott spoke of Marston’s leadership qualities. “Geoff is very versatile as a swimmer. Last year, he did the fly, the back, the intermediate medley. Really, he does whatever is best for the team. I look forward to his leadership this year.” Giving an example, Scott added, “If I were not to show at practice, Geoff would be able to take over.” The HRA swim team will be defending its Division 2 VISAA (Virginia Independent School) title this year for both the boys and girls squads.

While maintaining a 4.21 GPA and having scored 1370 on the two main components of the SAT exam, Marston has found time for other interests, to the amazement of both his teacher and coach.

Because of his experience as a basketball and baseball player at Warhill High, his previous school, Marston has stayed in touch with both sports by being involved with Buddy Ball, a program sponsored through the Williamsburg Youth Baseball League (www.williamsburgbaseball.com) and designed for children and young adults, ages 5-20, with special needs who are unable to participate in the established Cal Ripken or Babe Ruth leagues. His inspiration came from older brother Rob, who is autistic. Now 25, Rob was involved in the program and introduced the younger Marston into both Buddy Ball and Buddy Hoops, its basketball counterpart.

“It’s amazing to me how forward everyone looks to it,” said Marston, thinking of the Sunday sessions which he has worked for three years in the fall and spring. “Even if it’s just for one hour on Sunday, (the players and buddies) talk about it all week.”

It’s an experience which has helped him as a leader on the HRA swim team. “Seeing the younger kids develop has made me realize how much we have improved as a team. We want to continue the tradition.” With HRA’s standing as a pre K-12 school, the younger Navigators are aware of Marston’s accomplishments. Adds Deeley, “it’s safe to say that a lot of the little kids know Geoff.”

Marston’s future plans are not finalized yet, but he wants to attend college next year and study either engineering or medicine. Both coach Scott and teacher Deeley agree that he can do either one ably. Competitive aquatics are also part of his future. “I’m planning on swimming at a Division I school.” A trip to the NCSA Junior National swim meet in Orlando next March should be a good measuring stick for his recruitment value.

Perhaps the only question left in Geoffrey Marston’s planning deals with the location of the state Heisman award itself. His selection as the state winner was noted on the Wendy’s website two weeks ago. But at the time of the interview, no contact had been made with the Marston’s, nor had an actual award, or ceremony plans, arrived. Marston took the communication blunder in stride. “It’s just an honor to be representing HRA.”





.


Resolving School Conflict Creatively - A Big Apple Approach


Over the past 30 years, the term “conflict resolution” has taken on deeper meaning in the educational world.  Most of its understanding derives from the idea that conflict is inevitable, and as such, as with life in general, some conflict is a normal occurrence in all schools. (Inger, 1991).
Many of the advances shown recently in the bully awareness movement can be traced back to the fundamental idea that students and teachers need to be able to work out their differences. In fact, this conflict resolution skill needs to be developed by all members of a school community. One of the more successful programs had its beginnings in New York City.
Resolving Conflict Creatively
By definition, conflict resolution is seen as a “constructive approach to interpersonal and intergroup conflicts that helps people with opposing positions work together to arrive at mutually acceptable compromise solutions.” (1991). In New York City, schools such as James Madison High School in Brooklyn are putting a new approach to work.
The program is called Resolving Conflict Creatively, or RCCP. It is a joint undertaking between the educational board in New York City and an organization called the Educators for Social Responsibility (ESR). The project started small over twenty-five years ago, with less than 20 teachers in a few schools. But, because of its success, now over one thousand teachers and close to 35,000 students from over 100 city schools have an RCCP program in place. In New York, classroom teachers set aside valuable time to institute this ten-unit lesson on diversity relations, group learning and dispute techniques into their lesson plans.
How Does RCCP Work
The 20 hours of training begins between fourth and sixth grades for those who will serve as student mediators. For a three day session, as many as 40 students from twelve selected schools around the city receive three days of mediation training. This sets the foundation of trained students needed to implement the program. After completing the program the students begin serving as mediators at various schools. Their job is strictly to work in the mediator role, listening to both disputants and facilitating communication in the conflict resolution process.
Schools have to actively use the RCCP curriculum for at least a year to be eligible for the training course.
Training for All Stakeholders
Once their training is complete, the student mediators are able to serve the population within their schools, making the program available to all students.
However, there is an added dimension to the RCCP program, that being its availability to all stakeholders of the school. Teachers, counselors, and even parents are eligible to receive training at the various “outreach seminars” offered by the qualified counselors of RCCP. The counselors apply to be involved with the program and are chosen on merit. After selection, they are trained on the same curriculum which they will teach to the young students of New York City.
Parents have also been known to work as counselors. The training involves ten 4-hour sessions with the 20 hour course included as part of the training.


References
Inger, M. (1991). Conflict resolution programs in schools. ERIC/CUE Digest 74. ERIC
       Clearinghouse on Urban Education, Institute for Urban and Minority Education: New York.
 Rifkin, J. (1991). An overview of dispute resolution in educational institutions. National
       Institute for Dispute Resolution FORUM, 1-4.