Hermiston High School student-athletes kicked off the fall sports season last Friday with a tour of the district’s elementary and middle schools in the inaugural “I Love My Bulldogs Day.”
About 200 varsity athletes from the high school traveled to the district’s seven other campuses to talk with younger students about the importance of hard work, commitment and community engagement. The athletes broke into small groups and went classroom to classroom in uniform.
“It was an incredible opportunity for our high school kids, even more than we thought,” said Hermiston Athletic and Activities Director Larry Usher. “For the K-5 kids in particular, it was a powerful mentoring opportunity.”
Along with handing out 5,000 spirit wristbands, the high schoolers distributed high fives, and even signed a few autographs to the younger students. “The kids were so excited, and it was good for the high schoolers to find out how visible they are in the community,” Usher said.
At Highland Hills Elementary, the athletes visited the Newcomers Class, a class for second language learners. Each student practiced their English by asking the athletes what grade they were in. Students also checked in with former teachers and younger siblings.
“I love the K-12 approach because it builds strong connections across the district,” said Highland Hills Principal Jake Bacon. “As we continue to grow we’re still committed to being a community school district.”
