Every Februrary, we hold our annual 8th Grade vs. Faculty Basketball Game. In February 2016, the day before the game, the 5th Graders and their teacher, Ms. R., were talking about the game. Ms. R was bemoaning her lack of basketball talent and she told her students, “I probably won’t even make one basket.” Her students immediately called her out and yelled, “Ms. R, that is not a Growth Mindset!” That day, one of the 5th Grade students made a sign to hold during the game. The sign said, “Ms. R, All you need is one basket, just one!”

The 5th Grader held that sign in the audience during the game that day in Februrary 2016. She cheered loudly and waved her sign, but Ms. R didn’t make a basket that day. Ms. R kept the sign as a momento of the day, and hung it on the wall near her desk.

In February 2017, on the day of the Faculty vs. 8th Grade game, the student who made the sign (now in 6th Grade) showed up at Ms. R’s door and asked for the sign. She sat in the audience and waved her sign. But, Ms. R didn’t make a basket that day.

In February 2018, on the day of the Faculty vs. 8th Grade game, the student who made the sign (now in 7th Grade) showed up at Ms. R’s door and asked for the sign. She sat in the audience and waved her sign. But, Ms. R didn’t make a basket that day.

In Februrary 2019, the student that made the sign was in 8th grade and she was PLAYING in the game that year. She still showed up at Ms. R’s door the day of the game and asked for the sign. She said that she was going to give it to a 7th grader to wave during the game.

“Ms. R, All you need is one basket. Just one.”

During the 1st Quarter of the 8th Grade vs. Faculty game, Ms. R received a pass, took a quick shot and SHE MADE A BASKET!! The Gym erupted with a deafening roar and the 8th grade girls rushed up to Ms. R to give her a hug!

After the game, the 8th grade girls, including the one that made that sign back in 5th Grade posed for a photo. The sign was torn in half, the smiles were huge and the teacher became the student! The lesson was Growth Mindset. A beloved teacher and resilient kids sharing a moment of pure joy. This is CDS!