Special to the Record
With Chelsea Public Schools students already running around the Williams School cradling a lacrosse stick and learning the skills of the game, a new partnership with the organization Harlem Lacrosse has brought the burgeoning sport directly into Chelsea schools.
The partnership will be offered at the middle school level with intramural lacrosse teams at the Browne, Clark and Wright Middle Schools set to play this year. Indoor practices have already begun at the Williams School. Boys and girls teams will compete at all three middle schools.
Over 30 students are currently participating in the program, competing in drills and practices that involve learning skills of the game such as shooting, passing, cradling and more. The expectation is for student participation to increase in the spring when the weather improves, practices move outdoors and games begin.
“We are thrilled to partner with Harlem Lacrosse. We share a common mission to provide new and exciting opportunities for students, foster positive and meaningful relationships between students and adults, and ensure that all students succeed both academically and socially, particularly our middle school students,” CPS Officer of Innovation, Access and Opportunity
Malik Howshan stated. “We are excited to see how many of our students have already gravitated toward lacrosse within just the first two months of the program’s launch, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for lacrosse and Chelsea Public Schools.”
Harlem Lacrosse offers a holistic approach to the athletic experience. In addition to teaching and coaching students about the sport and providing an on-field experience where students can thrive, Harlem Lacrosse provides academic support to students and leverages the sport of lacrosse to help students on pathways to college and career success.
“We are thrilled to expand into Chelsea middle schools, bringing our year-round, school-based program to a community filled with energy and momentum. This expansion reflects our commitment to ensuring that more young people have access not only to the sport of lacrosse, but to the consistent, caring adult mentorship and academic support that define our model,”
Harlem Lacrosse Executive Director, Boston Pat Cronin said. “We are inspired by the enthusiasm from students, families, and school leaders in Chelsea and look forward to building something lasting together.”
“Chelsea Recreation’s focus every day is to create more opportunities in sports and out-of-school time activities for our students, while providing unwavering support to our colleagues in the School Department,” Director, Athletic Infrastructure and Sports Tourism Charles Giuffrida commented. “We are proud to build on the incredible work of CPSs and Harlem Lacrosse in our middle schools by investing in lacrosse equipment at Voke Park and Highland Park and by organizing clinics for elementary school students in the near future.”
This announcement continues a trend of expanded middle school sport opportunities for Chelsea students. This school year, the school district has already expanded its work with the Play Ball Foundation to offer after school intramural basketball, soccer, volleyball and flag football at all three middle schools.
Howshan added, “When I look at organizations like Harlem Lacrosse and Play Ball, we are truly blessed to have them as partners. When you combine their efforts, along with our colleagues at Chelsea Recreation, we would not be able to create such wonderful opportunities for all of our middle school students. We thank them all for their efforts and partnership!”
Additional information will be shared soon about intramural lacrosse schedules at CPS middle schools as well as upcoming clinics for elementary school students.