For the eighth consecutive year, teachers and parents from Hillside and Eliot schools will meet at Needham High School on Friday, March 16, for a spirited game of basketball to raise money for each school’s Parent Teacher Council. The game will take place at Needham High School. Doors open and pizza and other concession sales start at 5:30 p.m.; tipoff is at 6 p.m.
The two schools met on the basketball court for the first time in 2011, selling out within minutes and exceeding fundraising goals. The following years have generated continued success and created tremendous excitement in both school communities.
Meg Rosenbaum, co-President of the Hillside PTC said, "The Hillside/Eliot basketball game is a favorite tradition for our community. The kids love seeing their parents and teachers combine forces to face off against their friends at the Eliot School. There are lots of cheering, school spirit and fun to be had!"
“Ranked the most popular of all PTC events, Eliot families look forward to the game all year,” said Meredith Lopez, co-President of the Eliot PTC. The gym is electric as kids boisterously cheer for their teachers and parents. The energy is amazing. Such a fun night!”
To recapture the excitement of prior years, Eliot and Hillside have planned a night of family-friendly attractions and activities including student-led singing of the National Anthem, a performance by student bands, halftime cheer performance by the Needham Varsity Cheerleading Team and the sale of school-branded sports novelties.
According to Chanit List, assistant principal at Hillside, "I enjoy the game every year. The students love seeing all of their teachers, and it's a great way for teachers to get involved in a popular fundraiser for the school."
Not surprisingly, the big stars of the game are the teachers, so Eliot and Hillside make special efforts to stack their team rosters with teachers.
Gia Jeas, a 1st grade teacher at Eliot and veteran of the game said, “It’s a great night for everyone, and it’s wonderful for the teachers to have the support of all the students and teachers. It’s truly a night to remember!”
Tickets, which are $5 on game day and $4.25 if purchased online before, may be purchased at http://hillside-ptc.ticketleap.com/hoopsintheheights8. Children under 4 will be admitted free.
