Many of the 18 athletes on the U15 Shaler Area Middle School boys lacrosse team took time out of their day last month to give back to the school district and community.
The student athletes, who finished their season 8-1, worked together to plant flowers and shrubs in the middle school Courtyard Garden behind the school under the direction of lacrosse coach Alan Jaspert and parent volunteers.
“I want them to get to a point where they realize community service is fulfilling,” said Jaspert, a 2009 Shaler Area graduate and alumnus of the Shaler Area lacrosse program. “I wanted to give them that push and opportunity … so they can learn to give back to the community that serves them.”
Many of the plants and supplies were donated or purchased by parents of the lacrosse players or community members to complete the project. The students spread peat moss and placed a weed barrier down before planting boxwoods, shrubs and succulents, as well as mulching the garden.
“I thought it was an excellent idea, especially at the middle school U15 level, to have these boys do a community-service project,” said Dave Reagle, president of the Shaler Area Boys Lacrosse Booster Association.
“A lot of the people in this community support the lacrosse program, and I thought it was important for these kids to give something back to the community and learn there is more than just playing lacrosse.”
Source: http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/yournorthhills/yournorthhillsmore/6235603-74/community-lacrosse-shaler#ixzz34R9ErgMT
