January 12, 2023
Dear LREI Community –
This time of the school year brings all sorts of activities, projects, and events. and among them are a huge number of opportunities to see LREI’s student athletes, and their coaches, in action at home. We host many more home athletic events during the winter than we do any other time of the year. Most days there is a basketball game being played in the Thompson Street Athletic Center (Thompson St. just south of Houston.) Maybe a 7th/8th grade boys or girls team or one of the two JV teams or the two Varsity teams. On almost every Friday between now and Spring Break,0 the fifth/sixth grades intramural basketball league will be in action. Tomorrow’s tipoff is the first game of the league’s 35th season! To the busy schedule of home basketball games, we add the home fencing meets. Winter is a busy sports season.
We are so proud of our student athletes. Many start their days with early morning practices, a true test of endurance for students and parents alike while others play or practice through the afternoon and into the evening. All of this is followed by homework and other responsibilities. A true demonstration of commitment and dedication.
The same should be said of the coaches. They also start early, end late, and as many are LREI teachers, have a full day of teaching in between. However, for the love of the game, and of their players, they spend countless hours planning, coaching, cajoling, and strategizing, all of which is on display during every game.
What you might not see during the games are the incredible relationships that our players develop with their teammates and with their coaches. Older players mentor younger teammates, creating relationships across grades. Coaches and players develop bonds that transcend their time practicing and competing to the point that coaches become the chosen advisor, the go-to person when advice or comfort is needed, and often the expert on these particular LREI students. It is truly moving to see.
Finally, and speaking of seeing – I invite you to come on out and cheer on your LREI Knights. There is nothing better to do on a chilly winter’s day than to join the roaring crowd at Thompson St. and join the action. You can find all of the games on our athletics calendar. How exciting for even our youngest students to see their older schoolmates competing on behalf of their school community. The fifth and sixth grade league, as I mentioned, begins this Friday and the action goes on almost every Friday (not on 2/17) from 3:30pm.-5:00p.m
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