Students treated to action-packed Windy City Bulls game

Posted February 26, 2020 12:00 pm

By Colette Harris

Students had fun interacting with their teachers who were on center court for various activities during the Education Day game at the Windy City Bulls.

Windy City Bulls mascot Gus T. Bull wasted no time getting students amped up for the Windy City Bulls Education Day Game against the Erie BayHawks at Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates.

Students from multiple school districts thoroughly and loudly enjoyed cheering for the Windy City Bulls, checking out interactive experiences along the concourse and spending the day with their friends during the Thursday, Feb. 20 game, which celebrated students' hard work in the classroom.

A pregame career panel got kids thinking about future career opportunities in sports and showed them how many people are involved in making game day run smoothly.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to get kids out into the world to learn about the variety of careers in sports as well as enjoy a great basketball game with their school community," said Maria Bolos, a parent and director of school operations at Plato Academy in Des Plaines.

Students enjoyed flexing their creative muscles at the multiple kid-friendly stations that dotted the concourse. For vendors, game day was all about stretching kids' imaginations and having fun.

Elgin Public Museum of Natural History and Anthropology brought Native American artifacts for kids to see and the Backyard Experience in association with the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity Chicagoland taught kids how to draw Bugs Bunny. LEGOLAND brought a build table with Legos for kids to build to their hearts' content. Beckett Solutions, a company that brings 3-D printing equipment and training to schools, demonstrated how a 3-D printer works and showcased objects made with 3-D printing. DuPage Children's Museum set up a craft station for kids to make pinwheels and Blocks to Bricks brought Plus Plus building toys for kids to construct mosaics and figures.

"Kids can get out there and have a chance to be creative and 'construct imagination' through building mosaics and figures," said Courtney Olson, an associate at Blocks to Bricks.

The Official Kids Club of the Chicago Bulls and Windy City Bulls entertained younger students with kid-sized Connect Four games and Windy City Bulls-themed Tic-Tac-Toe and maze work sheets. Students also received a Windy City Bulls-themed workbook to work on math and English skills.

Windy City Bulls players wore jerseys with a No. 2 pencil theme, which were auctioned off to support the U-46 Educational Foundation. Teachers participated in activities on the court while students held up handmade Windy City Bulls signs, grabbed for tossed T-shirts and enjoyed a halftime performance by Larkin High School dancers.

"A day like today allowed my students to hear from a career panel about different opportunities. Hearing from these speakers was very motivational for them," said Liz Kraszewski, an eighth-grade teacher at Abbott Middle School in Elgin. "They got to see a great basketball game and have a good time."

The Feb. 20 game was the second of three Education Days presented by BMO Harris Bank. The final game in the series tips off on March 4 when the Windy City Bulls take on the Raptors 905.

Windy City Bulls players wore jerseys designed to look like a No. 2 pencil, which were auctioned off to support the U-46 Educational Foundation.

Students had fun interacting with their teachers who were on center court for various activities during the Education Day game at the Windy City Bulls.

Students participated at every turn during the Feb. 20 Education Day Windy City Bulls game.

Windy City Bulls mascot Gus T. Bull was in top form for the Education Day game, getting kids involved in the spirit of the day.

Kids had fun making spirit signs at the Windy City Bulls game Feb. 20.

Windy City Bulls mascot Gus T. Bull was in top form for the Education Day game, getting kids involved in the spirit of the day.

Some students were lucky enough to form a high-five chain when players were introduced for the Windy City Bulls game on Feb. 20.

Kids loved to make signs at the BMO Harris sign area.

Students and teachers ruled the day during the Feb. 20 Windy City Bulls Education Day game, sponsored by BMO Harris.

Beckett Solutions, a company that brings 3D printing equipment and training to schools, demonstrated how a 3D printer works and showcased objects made with 3D printing.

The concourse was filled with activities, fun and information for kids during the Windy City Bulls Education Day on Thursday, Feb. 20.

LEGOLAND brought a build table with Legos for kids to build to their hearts' content.

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