Often at a BSM sporting event or activity, when you look up into the stands, you will see numerous teachers. The teachers at BSM attend many sporting events all throughout the year. Students have to juggle a lot on a day-to-day basis with sports and extracurricular activities on top of attending a college preparatory school. As well as students, teachers are busy with their lives outside of school but still make time to come to games and events. Sometimes, it may go unnoticed, but to many students, it means a lot.
According to two BSM students, seeing teachers at games builds a different kind of relationship beyond the classroom. Juniors Emily Niska and Kendall McGee say it means a lot to see teachers in the stands at their sporting events. Teachers supporting students outside of the classroom shows students that they are supported as people and not just students. “They believe that their relationship with us is more than just school, and it just means a lot just knowing that they care for us more than just inside of the classroom,” McGee said.
They believe that their relationship with us is more than just school, and it just means a lot just knowing that they care for us more than just inside of the classroom.”
— Kendall McGee
When students are able to look into the stands and see their teachers supporting them, it creates a sense of mutual respect between the two. It lets students know that teachers are there for them beyond the classroom and want them to succeed in all aspects of their lives. “It shows that the teachers care deeper than an education level and they show that they’re truly there for you,” Niska said.
Teachers have a similar view on building different kinds of relationships with students. They believe that it’s important to support them outside of the classroom because it shows students that they support them as a whole. English teacher Calliane Olson enjoys attending as many sporting events and activities as she can. “I think it’s important to see them in other capacities because you learn a lot more about them. They show a completely different side of themselves,” Olson said.
Similarly, theology teacher Becca Meagher believes that it’s wonderful to see how students act in the classroom versus in their sport or activity. The traits that teachers learn from students in their activities can directly correlate with their relationships inside the classroom. Teachers can adapt to the student’s learning styles and learn ways to help students engage more during class. “It’s super fun to see [students] playing and see a totally different version of them on the court than [when they are] in my classroom. It’s just really fun to kind of get to know students in a different way,” Meagher said.