Schoolwide News

At EAB, there are five pillars. They are as follows: Academics, Activities, Arts, Leadership, and Service.  Athletics is in the pillar of Activities, and within this pillar, Athletics has pillars! The five pillars of EAB Athletics are above. Check them out!

These pillars are the foundation of our Athletics program. I will be expanding upon these five pillars throughout the school year in these Friday Bulletins! Safety is the pillar of focus for this article!

Since the beginning of the year (and ongoing), we have been faced with different situations in Athletics centered around Safety.  Examples of these situations are returning to play after a vacation, the dry season, and proper training/preparations. The dry season is leaving us (thankfully), but we have monitored our humidity levels, increased water breaks, and adapted exercises to be less strenuous during this season to keep our students safe.

Other aspects that focus on safety include our coaches' professional development meetings to begin the year in early August before tryouts begin. In these meetings, we go through the necessary training for Child Protection/Safeguarding and emergency procedures. In the past, we have offered other safety training like First Aid/CPR or Basic Life Support.

As the Athletics Director, I normally arrive on any game day early to see how the fields, courts, and playing surfaces are so there is a safe competition ready to be put on display. There is also the need to lock these facilities when no one is using them, so no unsupervised students are using them. This is a difficult situation since we want our students to be able to play freely, but keeping safety at the forefront is the key.

But how are student-athletes staying safe? How are their eating and sleeping habits to have a body that is ready to be physically active? How do they prepare themselves for practices or games? If injured, is a medical note provided by a doctor that proves they are ready to return to play? These are just a few reflective questions that come to mind when thinking of safety.

Overall, EAB is a safe place that welcomes student-athletes and teams to compete in a positive environment. Reflecting on these aspects of safety is of the utmost importance! Thank you for reading! Go Bulls!

John Powell
Activities & Athletics Director