Renaissance sponsors a staff recognition program for all varsity sports teams at PHS. This happens for almost all of Pattonville’s sports teams such as football, wrestling, softball and soccer. On Jan. 30, Pattonville’s swimming girls picked a teacher of their choice to honor them for being great.

“The meaning behind us choosing a certain teacher today is because it is the Renaissance game,” Allison VanBuren said. “It’s one of the meets with more meaning and we are so excited.”

The Renaissance game is one that many athletes look forward to.

“Athletes choose a staff member to honor by delivering an invitation and asking if the staff member will come to the game or meet,” Beth Moritz, an English teacher and Renaissance sponsor, said. “Staff members are given a jersey or shirt to wear to school indicating that they have been chosen.”

For swimming, the girls provided their teachers with a pair of goggles.

In the morning, staff members and athletes meet in the gym to take group and individual pictures.

“Then (the group of teachers) sit together to cheer for the kids at the event,” Moritz said. “As a staff member who has been picked, I can say that it is wonderful recognition to be chosen by an athlete for impacting his or her life.  Team members enjoy having a crowd of teachers to cheer for them, too.”

One of the PHS swimming girls, junior Allison VanBuren, chose a teacher for one special reason.

“I chose Mr. [Jeremiah] Simmons because he is my favorite teacher and I think he is pretty awesome, so cool.”

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