VIDEO: Harlem Globetrotter Visits Princeton

On Tuesday, Herbert "Flight Time" Lang of the Harlem Globetrotters visited Johnson Park Elementary School for a school-wide assembly. 

The visit was in recognition of an essay contest that teacher Mary Demarest's fourth-grade class won last year after submitting an essay on the Princeton Young Achievers program.

Princeton students submitted an essay about PYA, an after-school learning program for students in grades K-5 kids from low-income families. PYA helps students improve their grades, increase their self-confidence and become more interested in school through tutoring, homework assistance and enrichment activities.

The contest was part of a Globtrotter's “C.H.E.E.R.™ For Character” program, which focuses on the character traits of cooperations, healthy mind and body, efford, enthusiasm and responsiblity. 

Globetrotter players encourage students to match their actions with those five character traits in all their life experiences with parents, teachers and one another.

Here's is the Princeton students' winning essay:

Lots of kids think schoolwork is hard, but at Princeton Young Achievers, it's another story. If you're stuck or don't understand part of your homework, such as multiplication, teachers do all sorts of things to help: play math games, work with you on the computers, teach in small groups, or do one-on-one tutoring. By doing all of this, kids improve and feel better about themselves. “When my work is too hard, I get turned off or get a bad attitude. PYA makes learning easier and gets me ready for the next day,” said a PYA student from our class. 

When we first heard about PYA, all of us wished we could go, too. Besides helping kids with their homework, they also have fun activities. Senior citizens from the neighborhood come in and read books to the kids. There are also art and science projects.  Sometimes volunteers from the high school take some of the children to the neighborhood playground for exercise and fresh air. When PYA kids go home, parents are excited because their kids are happy and their homework has been completed. 

The Princeton YoungAchievers Program deserves a special award. The teachers,volunteers, and children work extremely hard and do a lot of goodwill for the community. We think PYA is a great place to be and leads kids to a brighter future on their journey to success. 

The Harlem Globetrotters are performing tonight in Trenton. Tickets are available by clicking here.