LAYTON—North Layton Junior High just finished off a new program called LIFEsports that gives kids the opportunity to have fun while learning life skills. The four-week program culminated in an Olympic-style celebration at the school. 

“It’s for incoming seventh graders,” said North Layton Junior High Assistant Principal Heather Bauer. “It helps them transition into junior high. We hope the kids will come back when they’re in eighth grade in a leadership role.”

The program started at Ohio State, she said. “Principal (Corby) Eason knew the director of the Ohio program and wanted to bring it here. He thought it would be great for our kids.”

It teaches them life leadership skills, self control, effort, teamwork and social responses, Bauer said. “Those are the pillars of life we use. They rotate through three sports a day and we talk about how to handle emotions on the field and at school and home. Also teamwork and what that looks like with family, in the classroom, etc.”

The focus of the whole program is to always incorporate SETS, she said. “That is Self control, Effort, Teamwork and Social Responsibility. They get a button when they exhibit one of those characteristics. We are very intentional about those and through that solidify the skills here all day. There’s even a competition for a SETS challenge in our Olympic games.”

The program offers volleyball, track, football, soccer, dance and basketball, said Bauer. “We rotate through those. They’re divided into four teams and play. We have ‘chalk talk’ where they learn about SETS and the skills for the sports.”

Teachers act as counselors and coaches, she said. “It’s a good way to introduce the kids to school and make them feel comfortable. Some of the teachers are seventh grade teachers and they like it because they can get to know the kids before they come in. A couple of them are math teachers and they were already talking about ways to help them in math.”

Bauer said they sent out fliers to the elementary feeder schools. “We talked to the principals about it. We knew transportation might be a problem but we talked to the transportation department at the district and they arranged for a bus to pick up the kids. We also got them summer lunch. We wanted to help remove any barriers the families might face.”

They had about 30-40 kids participate in this summer’s program, she said. “We hope to grow it and offer it to more kids. We’re trying to get some clinics in the evening or on Saturdays for military students to help welcome them to the community and help their parents navigate the school system, etc.”

Bauer said they’re working on getting some local college athletes to come and teach the kids in some of the sports. “The biggest thing is to teach kids in a fun way. To welcome them to the community and let them know they’re welcome in our school and that we’re an advocate for them.”