Beyond Skills

GCDS Athletics Provides Service and Character-Building Opportunities

For Shannon Doyle, coach of the Girls Varsity Ice Hockey team, the time her girls spend outside the rink is as important as the time in the rink.

Character Building

Skills are skills and they’re very important,” says Doyle. “But they will only take you so far. We also focus on life skills for our girls. That means being a good teammate and being resilient through the hard times and celebrating the successes of others and not just your own.”

The GCDS Athletics program builds sportsmanship and character intentionally through group activities, relationships with coaches who focus on the whole individual, and time together.

“I think what makes us stand out is that we truly try to see each child as who they are when they’re not with us and support them in their other seasons and all their other facets of life,” says Mrs. Doyle. “We work hard to support each girl, seeing her as a student, a sister, a lacrosse player in the spring and an artist.”

Community Service

Another way that GCDS Athletics focuses on building character and leadership skills is through community service, an integral part of the program. Each team is required to participate in community service every season. This year, teams have worked with Abilis, an organization that supports individuals with special needs, and Filling the Blanks, a food pantry that fights childhood hunger.

“You can’t be successful if you’re not willing to serve other people,” says Pat Scanlon, Boys Varsity Basketball Coach. “It’s the foundation of being a leader. It’s the foundation of being a great teammate. Our school has fully embraced this ethos.”

“I really like the service component of GCDS,” said Demitrius Farias, a sophomore and varsity wrestler. “My classmates are always willing to help out.”

During the winter season, the school

“I think what makes us stand out is that we truly try to see each child as who they are when they’re not with us and support them in their other seasons and all their other facets of life.” gathered for three high-energy and spirited community-building athletic events— Pack the Rink, Hoops Night, and the First Annual Andrew Niblock ALS Basketball Challenge. Fans filled the arenas for games against local rivals and cheered on the Tigers. The GCDS dancers performed and funds were raised for local non-profits, Rise Against Hunger, The Andrew Grene

Foundation, and the ALS Association. (see related stories)

“Those kinds of events are something our whole community can rally around. If we’re going to have everybody in the gym at the same time, let’s find a way to give back and be appreciative of all that we have,” said Mr. Scanlon.