bobie-lee.dixon@guardian.co.tt
The challenge of executing extra-curricular activities virtually, never really fazed national hockey player Patricia Wright-Alexis.
She just knew it could be done, if the right minds came together and so they did.
It resulted in the launch of the IN Clubhouse virtual extra-curricular activity centre where children ages five to 15-years old get to participate in an array of courses and activities geared towards their comprehensive development.
She explained in a telephone interview with Guardian Media, initially the venture was to take place in a physical classroom and outdoor setting (when required) but when COVID-19 hit, her plan had to change and change fast.
Wright-Alexis, a former student of St Augustine Girls’ High School, said even as an athlete her desire had always been to develop young athletes to be well rounded. Through her position of a hockey coach and fitness instructor at the Hockey Academy, she has sought ways to develop her athletes in the areas of leadership, discipline, organisational and social skills, academics and critical thinking skills, to name a few.
While her offerings as a professional in her field would have been previously extended to athletes only, with the July 6th launch of the IN Clubhouse virtual extra-curricular activity centre, she expanded to include non-athletes—an idea spun by her husband and business partner Osei Alexis.
Already, the venture will move into its fifth cycle of activities in November engaging its participants through a variety of programmes including fun fitness, basic illustration, art, art and craft, debates, public speaking, environmental awareness, grammar, book clubs, Spanish, yoga, dance, a mindfulness course and research development skills, among other activities. Professionals in the respective fields facilitated all the courses, taught both at intermediate and advanced levels, Wright-Alexis noted.
The graduate of the University of Massachusetts believed the venture had not only proved that extra-curricular activities could be done virtually—throwing all presentiment out the window but it also opened up a whole new way of learning and socialising—particularly in the “making new friends” department. “We even have participants from the US and Canada, joining us online for our yoga segment,” she boasted.
The venture perhaps exceeded all expectations, as Wright-Alexis said, parents were also now asking for programmes tailored specifically for them.