We C.H.E.E.R with the Globetrotters

STORY BY RYNEISHA MCKENZIE, JALEN GRAHAM, & SHAYLA RICHARDSON, FNN REPORTER, WOODRIDGE BUREAU. 

On March 2, 2011, three members of the Harlem Globetrotters performed their famous basketball stunts before students at the Sports and Learning Complex in District Heights, Maryland. About 25 students from the FPCS Woodridge campus had a chance to see their performance. The purpose of the presentation was to introduce kids to the  “C.H.E.E.R” character program. This stands for Cooperation, Healthy mind and body, Effort, Enthusiasm and Responsibility.  For example, the Globetrotters said "cooperation" means that you should try to get along with people you don’t like because you can get more done if you work as a team.  "Healthy mind and body" means you should eat fruit everyday and stay active as long as you can.  "Effort" means you have to try to do something and believe in yourself so you can accomplish your goals. "Enthusiasm" means you should be excited, happy and very energetic. "Responsibility" means to be accountable for your own actions. To describe the C.H.E.E.R program the players picked a person for each letter then had them stand in a circle. They showed us a new trick with the basketball and allowed students and adults to take shots at the basket. It took a while for them to make a shot, but finally someone from a different school made one. He was really lucky. We had a very good time listening to the players, learning how to work as a team and get along with people to get things done.  The three Globetrotters who attended the event were  #4 Flight Time Lang, his friend #30 Sarge Johnson and #24 Bones Millien.

Ryneisha McKenzie, Jalen Graham and Shayla Richardson are fifth grade students at Woodridge Academy.