Strathmore leadership students revitalize community

Last week students from the Leadership program and Strive program at Crowther Memorial Junior High School worked with the Town of Strathmore to fix up the outdoor basketball courts. The area provides recreation for students of the school, but also for the surrounding community.

Lindsay Walker, a teacher at Crowther Memorial Junior High School told us how it got started.

She said last fall a few students from the leadership courses wanted to improve the basketball courts.

“They spend a lot of their free time playing basketball on the court, including lunch hour and after school. Jack Cook took the lead, with Finley Plett, Dan Lehmann, Ewan Seymour, and Sam Mitcha helping along the way,” said Walker.

“Their initial idea was to fundraise enough money to purchase new basketball rims and paint new lines on the court. Our Strive program also wanted to freshen up the outdoor space so the two groups decided to work together. This expanded the wish list to include more benches, trees, and potentially a fence along the road,” she said.

The students volunteered in the school’s canteen over lunch hours on Fridays to raise money, and leadership students also organized and hosted a 3-on-3 basketball tournament as a fundraiser.

“The Strive and leadership students collaborated to apply for a school tree planting grant. Unfortunately, they did not receive the grant, but it was an excellent learning experience,” said Walker.

This spring the students and Associate Principal Ryan Hunter installed new rims. Then working with the town of Strathmore on May 3 over the lunch hour the town worked with students to paint the lines.

“It has been fantastic to support students in accomplishing their goals, and see how proud they are when they make something happen. Leadership students have developed skills of communication, organization, goal-setting, budgeting, persistence, and patience. I think the CMJHS basketball court is beloved by many in the community, so I hope these improvements benefit man,” said Walker.

Walker says they are hoping to install new benches and plant trees in June. Students at the school are also going to be hosting a 5-on-5 basketball tournament in June.