Leadership class learns and gives back

TRURO - The students aren't the only ones who learn something when the CEC leadership class puts on its annual CEC Leadership Basketball Tournament for junior high teams.
As a teacher, Chris Bernard is used to setting the tone for her leadership class. But this is an exercise different from a normal lesson.
"I just had to step back and let them do it," Bernard said with a laugh. "And it's very rewarding to see their work come off."
The tournament kicks off today at the school at 1 p.m. and continues until tomorrow afternoon when the girls and boys championships are held at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. respectively.
There are 16 teams taking part, eight boys and eight girls squads. Each gender will be divided into two divisions of four.
Participating schools include Truro, Bible Hill, Central Colchester, South Colchester, Graham Creighton, Hebbville, Bicentennial, Hantsport and
Cornwallis.
The students in the class, who organize and run the event, are excited about the weekend because they feel it gives them a chance to give back to the community as several of them played in the event just a few years ago.
"Everyone is really looking forward to it because some of us played in it when we were in junior high," said Carly Totten, a member of the class. "So we really want to make it fun because we had a lot of fun."
The students are split into committees, which look after certain aspects of the event, such as finance, canteen, publicity, facilities and
officials.
"It's been a lot of fun," Totten said. "We get to know the other people in our groups really well and it's really rewarding to see the kids out there enjoying themselves because of something we did."
The class has been working on the event for the past month and has been a real eye-opener for the students on the effort it takes to put such an event on.
"It's been a lot of work," Totten said. "But it's been fun."
Totten said there are a lot of lessons the students can take from the exercise, but one especially sticks out for her.
"Definitely teamwork," she said.
"That's the main thing because we all have to work together toward a common goal and those kinds of things can really help in the future."
That's the whole point of doing the exercise for the past 22 years.
"Yeah because a lot of them are going to be coaches and involved in sports and will end up putting on a tournament," Bernard said. "So it's good for them to learn how to do it properly and what it takes to put one on.
"And it helps them appreciate what people have done for them in the past."

sports@trurodaily.com