Wise School sixth grader Cooper West and his mother Ariana may have been playing basketball for charity last week at Katz Family Pavilion, but good vibes lost out against good defense as they battled for rebounds in the low post. Whether they were boxing each other out or contesting each other’s 3-pointers, there was no quarter asked and none given between the Wise Board member and her son.
The Wests (including father Kevin) were among the more than three dozen Wise School students, staff, faculty, administrators, and parents who hit the hardwood on May 31 for the annual fundraising basketball game benefitting the Israel ParaSport Center.
Sixth grade ballers took on the adults in a spirited match-up that pitted students against teachers and parents against their children. Principal John Heffron served as the game’s referee and Head of School Tami Weiser manned the mic as the public address announcer, as family members, Wise coaches, and temple staff watched from the sidelines.
The afternoon of hoops raised over $1,670 for the Center. Combined with donations from the fourth and fifth grade, Wise School raised over $3,500 for the cause, meeting its goal to purchase a new wheelchair that will be used for the disabled athletes that IPSC serves. Wise School students got to meet some of those athletes earlier this school year when they visited campus for lengthy Q&As.