Fans of all ages show their Blue Demons spirit and pride
By Kim Chiomento, News Editor, The Times
KENNETT SQUARE – On occasion ‘feeling blue’ is a great thing; like this Saturday when Kennett High School (KHS) hosted the latest in a series of Blue Demons / Kennett Pride events. The greater Kennett community, elementary and middle schools were invited to come out, beat the winter doldrums and cheer on both the boys’ JV and Varsity basketball games with a goal of embracing Kennett Consolidated School District’s newly adopted mantra: #ALLIN.
KCSD student winners of the half-time hoops raffle show off their free Kennett spirit wear on an afternoon when ‘feeling blue’ was a great thing.
KCSD students received free game admittance and were each entered into a ‘half-time hoops’ raffle. Fun-loving KHS cheerleaders delighted the crowd by tossing Kennett spirit wear into the bleachers and fans jockeyed for their attention with the hopes of catching some free gear.
One of the afternoon’s hottest spirit items were the light-up Blue Demons ‘horns headbands’ sold for $5 as a fundraiser by members of KHS’ Blue Demons Robotics team (to get yours and support the KHS Robotics Team email: demonrobotics4342@gmail.com.)
#ALLIN parent coordinator Chrissy Schwarz explains, “All in Day was organized to help foster school and greater Kennett spirit and to get families out to basketball games. Special credit and thanks needs to be given to the Kennett Boosters Club, each of our school principals, our new Athletic Director – Sean Harvey, and of course KCSD Superintendent, Dr. Barry Tomasetti.”
KHS Robotics Team’s popular light-up ‘Blue Demons horns’ headband.
Schwarz, a Boston College alumna, has three children in KCSD and a long-standing commitment to coaching youth sports at various levels. ‘Coach Chrissy’ is known by hundreds of area children and their parents for her positivity, high energy level and lovingly telling kids everywhere to ‘GO BE AWESOME.”
“You can see how much the community and students loved today’s event. We are parents of three Blue Demons, one at each level of schools within the District, and we are most definitely ALL IN.” Schwarz adds, “It is just great to be a part of such a fun and dedicated school district.”
While the crowd was in the gymnasium with eyes on center court, just a few steps away members of KHS’ Robotics Team were busily working in the basement of KHS Annex, displaying their own version of a big #ALLIN commitment. Robotics parent volunteer, Christina Gorman, kindly invited us to take a look at the behind the scenes happenings at one of the team’s typical 12 – 7 PM Saturday work sessions.
KHS’ Assistant Principal, Dr. Tomorrow Jenkins, shows her Kennett pride while enjoying the game with her family.
“A lot of people may not realize that members of KHS’ Robotics Team meet every day of the week, in some fashion, averaging three hours after school and between six and seven hours on the weekend…Students come in shifts to manage important team subcommittees that include marketing, strategy, hardware, programming and fundraising; it’s really incredible,” says Gorman. Currently, the team is ‘gearing-up’ for the First Stronghold Robotics Competition scheduled for March 18 – 20 at the Springside – Chestnut Hill Academy.
The spirited afternoon ended with a talented, tough and quick moving Garnet Valley High School Varsity team dominating and eventually chalking-up a big win. Despite tough odds to turn the game around, the crowd continued to support Blue Demons players until the end; underscoring that KHS teams, their fan base and the greater Kennett community are #ALLIN.
The Hogan Family ‘feeling blue’ at Saturday’s #ALLIN / #KennettPride event.
