Class #55--8th Age PE

Friday, May 13, 2011, 1:45 P.M. 8th Age Physical Education Class. Class #55 on my “50 Classes or Bust!” quest. It is an exciting day here on the campus, as we kickoff Alumni Weekend. I just had the pleasure of hosting the annual luncheon for our older alumni—those from the classes of 1961 (50th Reunion) and earlier. We were fortunate to have about 50 alumni in attendance, ranging from the Class of 1931 to the Class of 1961. Lunch ends, and I hustle down to the Lower School girls’ gym to see Mrs. Sewell and her 8th Age girls in action. As my faithful readers know, Mrs. Sewell is retiring this year after over 37 years of exemplary service to Calvert. Given that Mrs. Sewell has only a few weeks of school remaining, it is a treat for me to spend a full period with her class. The girls immediately begin warming up. “Let me see some decent push-ups,” Mrs. Sewell exhorts. The girls begin playing a game called Line Ball. They are divided into two teams, and each girl has a number. Mrs. Sewell calls out a number, the appropriate girl runs to the middle of the gym, gets a ball, runs back to her side, completes a chest pass with each member of the team, dribbles to a basketball hoop, and then completes a shot from near the foul line. The girl who makes the basket first wins a point for her team. What enthusiasm I see! The girls scream words of encouragement, even chanting their teammate’s name as she tries to make a shot. Mrs. Sewell still has the magic touch. After seeing a girl struggle mightily to make a shot, she instructs the student to shoot underhanded. Lo and behold, the next shot goes in!