School Principal
Kate Josef
“We are so very excited to bring such an incredible opportunity to our students at Bakersville. Value of Sport will help support our individual students in creating personal life goals and helping to keep our students on track and engaged in positive opportunities via Sports and Arts. With this opportunity to engage in Sports and/or Arts, our students will be monitored, supported and encouraged to continually achieve, make progress and reflect on their life and attainment of positive values to further their productivity and contributions to our society. They will be more well rounded citizens with more confidence, drive and motivation to succeed!”
School Coaches
Brian Watson
VICE PRINCIPAL
“Throughout my life sports and physical fitness have played a large role in shaping how I live and what I value. Hard work, dedication, teamwork, perseverance are just a few of the values that sports give us. What I love about sports is that it can be anything from your major sports of football, basketball, baseball, to lesser known sports such as powerlifting, pickleball, cricket, even bike riding! I am extremely excited to be able to bring these opportunities to our students at Bakersville, opportunities otherwise not available. The chance to be a role model and expose students to the principles, characteristics and Value of Sport is a great opportunity to give students what sports gave to me.”
Allie Arnieri
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
“Throughout my life, sports have always played a huge role. I have been a part of sports for as long as I can remember. Both as a player and a coach, the lessons I have learned through my participation in sports are lifelong. I’m very excited to be involved in the Value of Sport Program that will provide kids with the opportunity to experience these lessons. The Value of Sport Program will provide students with many positive role models throughout their own communities”
Danielle Longo
SOCIAL WORKER
“I never thought of myself as a “sport” person. I could be found in dance class and on a stage as a kid and teen. But like any sport, dance was a creative and physical outlet for me. It gave me a peer group and my dance teachers grew to be the people I admired most and strived to be like. They taught me skills well beyond the technique of dance like goal setting, perseverance and dedication–skills that are still an important part of my character though it’s been years since I performed. I am excited that Value of Sport will bring so many opportunities to the students of Bakersville School. Value of Sport is about children connecting with positive adult role models, learning new skills and building life-long character traits. It’s a winning combination not only for the child, but for our whole community. “
Chelsea Thibeault
THIRD GRADE TEACHER
“Sports have helped me become the best version of myself and I am looking forward to bringing this wonderful program to the students at Bakersville that will help them do the same. As a player and a coach, I fully believe that sports keep students engaged in academic activities and provide wonderful guidance for them. Sports matter in a student’s day to day life and Value of Sport will help every child set clear goals and accomplish great things. I feel proud to have been born and raised in Manchester, and now, a teacher in Manchester. Through organized sports, I have found myself more respectful, responsible and understanding of others. Those are values every child should have the opportunity to learn and I am so excited that Value of Sport will help the students at Bakersville learn and practice those core values.”
Life Coaches
John Levasseur
DIRECTOR OF MPAL, MANCHESTER, NH
“The sport of boxing has guided me through life’s most difficult challenges. If it was not for this sport, my success would not be the same. Through hard work and humbling challenges, boxing has made me a better man. The Value of Sport is priceless as it leaves a positive ripple effect for self and the community.”
Shannon Jackson
POLICE DETECTIVE MANCHESTER, NH
“I believe that this innovative program will be a success within our community. Being active in sports and involved on a team can give our youth a sense of belonging and lay the foundation for future life skills that our community needs. With setting goals there are decisions to be made and to accomplish these goals you need four fundamentals; each goal has to be Personal, Possible, Positive and Specific. I believe that “The Value of Sport” program will be able to guide our youth in setting positive and achievable goals and improving their decision-making.”
Brittany Battye
COMMUNITY POLICING DIVISION, MANCHESTER, NH
“I believe early involvement in youth sports is paramount to providing the tools and skills to be successful in life. The lessons learned are life long and will become a cornerstone of who you are and how to interact with others. I’m grateful for the influential coaches I’ve encountered throughout my sports experience and I’m privileged to be part of the Value of Sport program that provides the same opportunities to today’s youth”.
Steven Duquette
COMMUNITY POLICING DIVISION, MANCHESTER, NH
“When you hear and see that a child can’t pursue a sport due to lack of finances or transportation your heart breaks. I want to be a part of this life changing program to see kids who thought they would never have the opportunity to play a sport with their team having fun and learning life skills. I want to be a part of the child’s life as a positive role model cheering for them along the way. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be apart the Value of Sport program.”
Fred Gillis
SARGEANT, COMMUNITY POLICING DIVISION, MANCHESTER, NH
“For me, participating in sports instilled core values that I have carried with me to this day. It was through these sports I learned what it meant to work hard to achieve goals, understood the concept of teamwork, and also the importance of treating everyone with respect. The children of today are the future of tomorrow, and it is so important that we invest the time and effort to ensure they are setup with the best chances to be successful. I hope that through the Value of Sport Program, the children of the Manchester community will take away important values and build relationships that will last a lifetime.”
