Published: October 05, 2009 12:22 pm      

Little Leopards schooled by GHS athletes

The halls of Chalmers Elementary School were filled with students cheering, last Friday, as the varsity football team from Gainesville High School (GHS) walked into the school and down the halls high-fiving students, talking with them and shaking their hands.

Loud and enthusiastic chants of “Go big red, go bid red,” resounded through the halls as all the players greeted the students.

Each player then visited the classroom that adopted them to talk with students, sign autographs, give a pep talk about doing well in school and answer questions put to them by the students.

The Adopt a Leopard activity, which took place at both Chalmers and Edison Elementary campuses, started with students in each classroom making the varsity football players locker decorations for the Gainesville High School Homecoming game.

As a result, the players were asked to visit the classroom that adopted them and meet the kids.

The kids drew pictures for their adopted player and some classes made a book for them and treat bags.

Third grade teacher Dana Dudenhoeffer’s class awaited the visit from their adopted player, No. 6 Justin Dudenhoeffer.

The third graders took turns putting together his treat bag and were finishing up coloring a picture of him in uniform and in action on the football field.

“We made a book for him with pictures, like cheerleaders,” said Karina Gaspar. “Some of us drew Justin in the middle of the cheerleaders.”

Eric Castillo drew a picture of Dudenhoeffer throwing a football. Castillo said his big question for Justin would be if the player felt like he was ‘No. 1.’

Jasmine Malone said she planed to tell the football player good luck and ask him how he did at the last football game, on Senior’s Day.

Lauren Flynn wanted to show Dudenhoeffer her picture she colored and ask for the football player’s autograph.

Nathan Murphy said the class was excited to meet with and talk to Dudenhoeffer.

“I’m glad we adopted him because I want to see him,” said Anthony Moncada.

In Leslie Mitchell’s classroom, football player Alejandro Canes visited his adoptive third-grade class. During his discussion with the third graders, Canes told the students to find friends and people to help them when they need it.

Canes also told the students to, “work hard” and “keep their grades up.”

One student blurted out to Canes, “You rock.”

After meeting with his adopting classroom Canes said, “It feels great to know that we have this support, that there are people cheering for us. It puts a smile on my face.”

Player DeShawn Franklin said, “I like coming here (Chalmers). It brings me back to the old days.”

Chalmers Elementary Principal Heidi Mercer said she was very excited to have the players come to the school to visit the students and classrooms.

She said the players pep up the students and the students pep up the players.

“A lot of these boys attended school here at Chalmers,” said Mercer of the visiting football players.

As the football players were gathering at the front of the school to get back on their bus to return to GHS, Mercer called out to them, “We love you all.”

One player replied, “We can tell.”

Mari Copeland of the GHS Booster Club coordinated the Adopt a Leopard program.