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“It was an intense junkyard dogfight. Taunting slurs and jeering insults flew across the hardwood. Both sides got into foul trouble early.”

And that was just from the fans!

Last nights Narrows League Boys Varsity Basketball game pitting the (5-1) Central Kitsap Cougars against the (1-3) Bellarmine Prep Lions was fast and furious from the opening tip-off to the final buzzer in the 4th period.

Led by Abdul Gaddy, the #2 ranked Point Guard in the Country, the Bellarmine Boys managed to head into the locker room at the half with a slight lead. Then, towards the end of the 3rd period, the momentum seemed to shift in their favor as the Lions approached a double-digit advantage.

But coming off an emotional last-minute loss to Mt. Tahoma last Friday, the Cougs rallied back to take the lead and never looked back.

And now for just a few casual observations as a parent in the stands…….

This year’s squad has some really incredible potential. There’s a wide range of skilled starters, and a very deep and talented bench. If they can learn to trust one another, play unselfishly, and work together as a team, they could be the team to beat in the State Finals.

While Basketball is very much a ‘team’ sport, one player demonstrated extra effort last night, and really helped to keep us in the game – Job well done to Matt Wain!

Many times, the difference between a win or a loss is crowd support. This is especially true for games played on the road. A HUGE kudos goes out to the Cougs JV Basketball team and a wonderfully rowdy group of CK High Football players who helped to keep our team’s spirit fired up! The entertaining verbal volleys being tossed from one side of the gym to the other are part of a longstanding tradition among high school and collegiate athletic events. So, unless there’s an imminent threat of bodily dismemberment, or people are throwing bad fruit at the Refs, these ‘spirited’ jeers and taunts should not be silenced or micro-managed. These games are very special moments in our kids lives. Allow them to enjoy the moment! Otherwise, people will stop coming to the ‘away’ games, and everyone loses, maybe even literally!

Our next game is at CK High this coming Thursday, Dec. 18th, against North Kitsap. JV starts at 5pm, and Varsity at 7pm.  Go COUGS!

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Tags: 2008-2009 Boys Varsity Basketball, Bellarmine, central kitsap high school, Matt Wain, Scott McMinds

The 2008 Central Kitsap High School Cougars Varsity Football team (7-3) handed the Rogers Puyallup Rams only their 2nd loss of the season last Saturday night at Silverdale Stadium amidst an ecstatic 4000+ capacity crowd. The 21 to 6 win sends Central Kitsap onto the State Semi-finals in the Tacoma Dome against the (8-2) Issaquah Eagles. The Eagles narrowly escaped with a victory against Bothell (31-28), the same team that knocked Central Kitsap off in the State playoffs last year.

Our son, Elliot, a Senior at Central Kitsap High knows many of the players, including one of his best friends #88 Allen Hewey, pictured above.

The Cougars began the 2008 season with high expectations, having a large number of returning players from last year’s winning squad. However, with a rather lackluster 2-3 start, their confidence could have been shaken. But with tremendous determination and 7 consecutive wins under their belts, the Cougars seem poised make a bid on the 4A State championship!

Game time is 4pm, Saturday November 29th, at the Tacoma Dome. Let’s all head out to the game and show our support for Central Kitsap High School.

Go Cougs!

(photo courtesy of the Kitsap Sun)

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Tags: allen hewey, central kitsap high school, cougars, Kitsap County WA, varsity football, WIAA/Dairy Farmers of Washington/Les Schwab Tires 4A Fo

You just have to love a small town where everyone is a neighbor, troubles are shared and victories are celebrated. Where else can you find a Marching Band in your driveway?

Last Monday, the Central Kitsap High School Band gathered in force, completely uniformed, in a local neighborhood to perform a serenade of support for one of their assistant principals who was recently diagnosed with cancer. The cheerleading squad and the guard drill team were also involved in this one-person parade. Their goal was a simple one. To show their care, concern and support for a neighbor in distress.

“Cancer” is one of the scariest words in the English language for many of us. Facing the fear and enduring the medical treatment must be almost unbearably difficult. “What of my family?” and “What will happen to me?” are just a couple of questions that would terrify anyone. It is a lonely battle that can drive a patient to depression and tear a family apart.

Debbie Belew-Nyquist, one of the High School’s assistant principals, was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months ago. She and her family have been living with the fear and upset. But on Monday, she found that her fight is a little less lonely. There was a marching band in her driveway to prove she’s not alone!

I was injured about a month ago and was blessed to learn the same lesson. Meals were prepared with care and delivered to my home (thank you Martha and John, thank you Rich), my lawn was mowed (thank you Jim). Household shopping and household chores were taken care of for me and my family (thank you mom, Jim and everyone else). Phone calls and emails arrived almost daily with words of support and offers of help. Neighbors, friends and family let me know I was not alone.

You just have to love a small town where everyone is a neighbor, troubles are shared and victories are celebrated. I know I do.

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Tags: central kitsap high school, central kitsap schools, kitsap community, kitsap county schools

Recently I had the opportunity to see first-hand what a wonderful high school and an exceptional staff we have in Silverdale. I got to see it through my clients’ eyes.

I have always raved about our school district to clients relocating into the area, especially when they have school age children and are trying to decide in which area to buy a home. My older son graduated from Central Kitsap High School in 2000 and went on to Gonzaga University on scholarship. The year he graduated, Central Kitsap High School was rated in the top 4% in the nation. I recall going to awards night and being just amazed how many academic scholarships the seniors had received. My younger son is a sophomore at CK and is learning how much support is available from teachers, tutors and guidance counselors. I felt I could talk about the school from firsthand experience. Now I have even more experience to draw from.

I am currently working with a military family that is relocating here from Maryland. There are two teenage daughters. They were going to be in Silverdale for a couple of days to get an idea of the area, the prices of homes, and to show the girls their soon-to-be new home. In corresponding with them, I learned that schools were very important and the girls were not having a very good experience with the school in Maryland. I thought it would be a great idea to get them a tour of the high school while they were here, and it might also help the girls transition. Military life can be very difficult for the children.

I called the school, spoke with the main office and explained what I needed. The secretary was very friendly and helpful. She told me that Mr. Cervinsky, the principal, would do the tour and if I left him a message, he would return my call as soon as possible. (I have to digress a moment and say that recently I had to call my old high school in Massachusetts for my records and let me tell you the voice on the other end was rude, abrupt, and not very helpful. I ended up not getting what I needed and sent for my college transcript instead. Now I remember why, after moving here from Massachusetts where I was born and raised, I stayed!!)

Mr. Cervinksy did return my call and we set up an appointment for 9 AM on Friday; my clients’ first day in Kitsap County. I very much appreciated it as the school was just wrapping up WASL testing and getting ready for spring break. What a great visit we had!  Mr. Cervinsky first talked to my clients a bit before the tour to tell them about the school and programs available. We then set out on the tour. Along the way he introduced us to passing faculty members and students. Everyone was extremely friendly and obviously very proud of their school. My clients thanked me a few times during the tour saying how wonderful and helpful it was and how great for the girls.

One of our last stops was at the gymnasium where students and staff were getting ready for a pep rally. We were invited to stay for the pep rally and told the dance team was going to perform. My interest peaked as recently my husband and I have been taking dance lessons (that is a story for another day!). I thought maybe they could show me how it is done. Unfortunately we had to decline as we still had a full day of  looking at homes and neighborhoods.

Once outside, my clients again said they couldn’t believe how friendly everyone was compared to the East Coast, and how incredible it was to have the view of the water from the school. I realized that we take things for granted sometimes and don’t realize how lucky we are. I also learned more about the school through their visit. Central Kitsap High School is now rated in the top 2% by Newsweek! There are 300 tutors available if the students need them. My sophomore and I will be having a chat soon. I have been paying for a private math tutor!  I hope Mr. Cervinsky, I have that number right if you should read this story. 

In closing, I would like to extend my thanks to Mr. Cervinsky and all those we met that day and issue a warning; I will be back!

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Posted in Guest Writers, Silverdale WA Real Estate | 3 Comments »

Tags: central kitsap high school, ckhs, kitsap county schools, kitsap real estate, Silverdale WA Real Estate