Ravens Day at Woodholme Elementary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RB P.J. Daniel and T Jared Gaither smile for the camera with the students of Woodholme Elementary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Woodholme Elementary Students created posters and hung them up in their classroom as part of their Ravens Day celebration.

It’s not the regular season and there isn’t a Ravens game for another 2 ½ months, but students and teachers at Woodholme Elementary don’t care. They’re celebrating the

excitement that comes with a new year and a new coach already. As you entered the school parking lot, a marquee displayed that it was Ravens Day on Tuesday (5/7). Television screens throughout the building flashed ‘Go Ravens’ amidst purple screens.

In the spirit, Ravens T Jared Gaither and RB P.J. Daniels stopped by to pay a visit. Woodholme is located in Pikesville, Md, and will celebrate its’ fourth birthday in September. The relatively new school boasts a broadcasting studio, two computer labs and teachers with a zest for hands-on instruction. Mark Taylor, a fifth grade teacher at Woodholme, invited Ravens players as a surprise to some select students who represented the best of the best at the school.

The scene was set. The two players entered the room, and 50 patient 5^th-graders in their purple garb sat auditorium style, waiting to get their questions answered.

There were some questions that the players anticipated.

“What do you think of the new coach?” “What’s your favorite food before the game?”

And then there were some questions that gave the players a bit of a pause. They took their time with those ones.

Fifth-grader Noah asked, “Will Emmitt Smith be upset if you break his rushing record?”

“I don’t think so,” P.J. surmised. “It’s all about competition. As long as I have JG here, I can do it.”

Jared surprised the group, when asked about his goals and aspirations.

“I wanted to be a chef and own my own restaurant,” he responded. “I love food. Pasta, chicken, broccoli. You have to have your veggies.”

The day was full of positive thoughts and reinforcement. The students clapped after every answer, encouraging one another and actively listening. The players spoke about their steps to making it into the pros, and the hard work that pays off in the end. Even when asked about the colleges they attended, Jared (Maryland) and P.J. (Georgia Tech) put aside their ACC rivalry and complimented each others’ skill. They explained how they are close friends off the football field, and when asked which players they look up to, they quickly said each other.

Jared and P.J. left the students with some advice as the final bell rang, closing out the school day. The Woodholme group, the best of the best, took it to heart, and seem to be well on their way to growing into the best they can be. They will head on to middle school in three months time.

“Know in your heart and mind that you are special,” P.J. stressed. “Whatever you want to do, you can do.”

Truer words were never spoken, for a group of students or a group of players, both entering a new era.