By Tanmay Ahluwalia, special to the North Delta Reporter
Monday’s phys-ed class was different from the usual for some Jarvis Traditional Elementary students as a special guest instructor introduced them to a new sport – lacrosse.
As part of the Stick to School Program offered by the Vancouver Warriors – a professional box lacrosse team owned by Canucks Sports & Entertainment – former National Lacrosse League player Alex Turner assumed the role of P.E. teacher for three days this week (from Monday, April 22, to Wednesday, April 24), teaching ‘lacrosse 101’ to more than 300 students, one class at a time.
About 15 students per class in all 20 divisions at the school – from kindergarten to Grade 7 – participated in the three-day-long program.
Among Turner’s eager learners Monday afternoon was Grade 3 student Erika Zafranco, who said she “really enjoyed” learning lacrosse and holding a stick for the first time.
“I had a really fun time,” Zafranco said after a 40-minute-long intense lacrosse session with her classmates. She also looked forward to sharing her experience with her family, especially her brother.
Cheering for Zafranco and other students at the school gym was their regular P.E. teacher Sarah Bant, who had taken the initiative to bring the Warriors to Delta. Initially, Bant had reached out to the Delta Islanders, however, the local Junior Tier 1 team had already wrapped up their programs for this school year.
When she found out the Warriors were running a similar program, she excitedly reached out and invited them to the school.
Bant said she chose lacrosse because it isn’t well known among kids but is an “awesome sport” that she knew the kids would enjoy learning about.
What also intrigued Bant about the sport was its history in Canada and its importance among Indigenous peoples.
Lastly, reflecting on the City of Delta’s efforts in building more lacrosse boxes, Bant felt introducing the sport to her students the right thing to do.
“I also wanted (the kids) to see how fun it can be to try something new,” she added.
Bant offered a message to other schools interested in exploring such options: “If other teachers are interested in setting up something like this, I highly recommend it. (…) The kids would love it!” she said with a grin.
SEE ALSO: BC Lions players at Surrey park for Indigenous youth flag tourney April 28
SEE ALSO: City hosting free playoff watch parties at North Delta’s Social Heart Plaza
