AYTEF's Block Party: Food, Fun, and Tennis for the Whole Family
In February, AYTEF held its first Block Party of 2024, our signature community outreach event. Families had a fun-filled evening with free pizza, tennis, games, music, and prizes. Special thanks to the men's and women's Marist varsity tennis teams for volunteering on-court. Join us for our next Block Party on Friday, March 22, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Fair Oaks Tennis Center. We hope to see you there!
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Community Engagement: Connecting with Fair Oaks Elementary
As part of our community outreach focus, AYTEF is partnering with nearby Title I elementary schools. In December, we engaged with Fair Oaks Elementary at their Winter celebration. Principal Seibert guided us on a neighborhood drive to familiarize ourselves with the area. In January, we held an introductory tennis clinic in the Fair Oaks Elementary gym, drawing 23 students. Volunteers from the Omega Phi Beta Kennesaw State University chapter, a Latina-oriented collegiate sorority, provided invaluable support, including translation services for Spanish-speaking families. Principal Seibert's leadership, including an email blast, fueled student enthusiasm, with three families showing interest in our GAME level sessions. We plan to host more open house events in the spring.
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AYTEF Youth Player Pathway Success
The AYTEF Player Pathway guides youth from beginner to intermediate competition readiness. In 2024, our focus is on providing opportunities for them to compete and gain experience through Team Challenges, Junior Circuits, and JTT Team Play. Our calendar includes 8 Team Challenges and 6 Junior Circuits this year.
Team Challenges, which AYTEF held on February 16th and March 8th, are free matchplay events where players learn scoring, facing opponents, and teamwork.
In December, we hosted our first USTA Junior Circuit at Fair Oaks Tennis Center, producing a Boys 10U division champion. Our next Junior Circuit starts in April.
In the USTA Junior Team Tennis 10U Intermediate flight, four of our players competed against 6 other teams and secured first place for the season, with an impressive record of 110 - 34 games won/lost. Congratulations to Shrimanth Ramesh, Hannah Brown, Jalon Little, and Preston Walker, who will compete in the championship match.
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Exploring Electrical Engineering in STEM Learning Labs
AYTEF STEM Learning Lab students have been buzzing with excitement as they embark on hands-on projects that spark creativity, problem-solving skills, and a deeper understanding of STEM concepts. One of the curriculum highlights this year has been the creation of our very own Circuit Bugs. Students had the opportunity to flex their design muscles by crafting unique bug shapes, complete with LED eyes. But here's the twist – they had to wire these LEDs correctly to light up those bug eyes. It wasn't just about creativity; it was about understanding circuitry, following procedures, and troubleshooting when things didn't quite light up as expected.
Another fascinating project our students completed was building homopolar motors. Picture this – a copper wire spinning around a battery and magnet, all thanks to electromagnetism! Students learned the intricacies of measuring wire length precisely, understanding magnetic fields, and the difference between open and closed circuits. It took persistence and resilience to balance the wire just right to make it spin. We're immensely proud of the progress these youth are making and can't wait to see what other electrifying adventures await them in the coming months.
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Empowering Youth for Future Success
In the AYTEF Learning Hub, the focus at the start of 2024 was on Future and Career Readiness, guiding our youth through valuable life-skills lessons. From understanding the significance of New Year Resolutions to setting S.M.A.R.T goals, students embarked on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. They also received practical guidance on crafting resumes and cover letters, laying the foundation for documenting their achievements and aspirations as they progress. Additionally, older students delved into college preparation, while younger ones explored the power of a growth mindset, equipping them with the tools to navigate their academic and professional journeys with confidence.
In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, our students showcased their graphic design talents, crafting inspiring posters highlighting the remarkable achievements of Black Americans in sports. To conclude this special initiative, a social media contest was held to determine the winning designs. AYTEF social media pages received an overwhelming amount of votes and engagement during the contest, a testament to the hard work of our K-8 graders. See the pictures below for the Top 3 posters!
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1st Place: Coco Gauff, 3rd Grader | |
2nd Place: Jackie Robinson, 3rd Grader | |
3rd Place: Naomi Osaka, 9th grader | | |
Giving Tuesday Shoe Gifting Night
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our Giving Tuesday donors, AYTEF hosted our annual Shoe Gifting Night on February 9th. We were thrilled to present 21 deserving kids, who have been part of our core program for one year or more, with brand new pairs of tennis shoes, all made possible by the kindness of our donors. It was a heartwarming event that truly showcased the power of community and the joy of giving back. A big thank you to everyone who made this evening unforgettable for these young individuals!
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Seeking Sponsors for this Year's Golf Fundraiser
We're gearing up for our 6th Annual Regions Bank AYTEF Golf Tournament and we're calling for sponsors to join us in making this event a huge success. If you're interested in showcasing your support for our cause and gaining exposure for your brand, please reach out to Tim.Noonan@utatennis.com for sponsorship opportunities. Let's make this year's tournament one to remember!
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The mission of the Atlanta Youth Tennis & Education Foundation is to ENRICH the lives of under-resourced youth through tennis and education. We SERVE through sport so that our youth participants can ACHIEVE without limit on the court, in the classroom, and in life.
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