Bloom

The CC trail on the back side of the pond is in bloom!

Nature is good for you. Join cross country.

How Neuroscientists Explain the Mind-Clearing Magic of Running

 

"The other fascinating thing here is where these new cells pop up: in the hippocampus, a region of the brain associated with learning and memory. So this could help explain, at least partially, why so many studies have identified a link between aerobic exercise and improvement in memory. 'If you are exercising so that you sweat — about 30 to 40 minutes — new brain cells are being born,' added Postal, who herself is a runner. 'And it just happens to be in that memory area.'"

Read the full article here:

http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2016/04/how-neuroscientists-explain-the-mind-clearing-magic-of-running.html

Academic Awards

Congratulations to the Nighthawk girls' varsity track & field team for receiving gold-level Team Academic Excellence Recognition from the MN State High School Coaches' Association! Also to Erika S. for earning Academic All-State by meeting state honor roll time standards in the 1600m and 3200m. You can time performances on the track and calculate GPA's; but you can't measure the determination, courage, kindness, and loyalty these young women have shown this year. Well done.

2016 Track & Field Slideshow (promo length)

There you have it: The inaugural season summarized in less than 4 minutes...

Celebration

Each individual involved in this team was exactly who our inaugural track & field season needed, and each athlete was invited to the front to be recognized at our end-of-season banquet. The goal is not only to reward performance character strengths but also to highlight moral character strengths—the actions and instances of growth that lead to better relationships with others. Lots of food, fun, and hugs; memories shared, awards given, and senior batons signed. Thanks again to all the families who committed their time to each other this season!

In the News

Fun read in our local paper and several Nighthawks mentioned! Visit this post to see our favorite photos from the meet.

Section Track & Field Meet

Good day yesterday at St. John's University for the Section 5A Track & Field meet. The facilities were amazing and the weather was cool and breezy. Erika represented the Nighthawks well, placing for points in both events, taking 6th in the 1600m (5:30.99) and 7th in the 800m (2:31.14). The 800m was a fun surprise as she was time-seeded into the slower heat (two heats of 8 runners each) but ran fast enough to place and score points. Never give up based on what you see on paper! Good racing and valuable experience--by far the best competition we've watched all year.

It was a great day for team relations, too, as athletes and coaches said good-bye for the summer and exchanged emails. Nighthawk meet scorecard: one new penpal, one meet invitation for next year, and one medal. :)

That's a wrap--time to prepare for the end-of-season celebration and switch gears for cross country. Thanks to all who made this possible!