A Date with Destiny
The Times and gainesvilletimes.com are covering every aspect of Gainesville High’s championship week with special coverage every day through Saturday and with expanded game coverage on Sunday.
TICKETS
Tickets are available for purchase from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Gainesville High School office. Cost is $15. (Tickets purchased at the Georgia Dome will cost $20).
COMING SATURDAY
A special section (available only in the print edition) will preview Gainesville’s championship game against Peach County, with scouting reports, matchups, starting lineups, a season recap and much more. Updates from the Georgia Dome will be posted throughout the afternoon at gainesvilletimes.com.
COMING SUNDAY
Special expanded coverage of Saturday’s championship game including a game recap; reaction from players, coaches and fans; photos and more will be in Sunday’s print edition. On gainesvilletimes.com, look for video, audio clips and photo slidehows.
Celebrating Gainesville High School’s trip to the Class AAA football state championship game is a family affair in Gainesville schools.
Fair Street IB World School students sent words of encouragement to the Red Elephant players Wednesday by making cards for all the seniors on the team. Students made individualized cards for players as the 14-0 Red Elephants prepare for a face-off against the Peach County Trojans on Saturday at the Georgia Dome.
"They’re making cards to encourage the team members to do their best," said Fair Street Assistant Principal Kim Davis.
She said at least half of the high school
football team once attended Fair Street.
The class of fourth-graders learned new vocabulary words, like "undefeated" and the team’s nickname for itself, "’Ville Squad" as they made cards. Davis said students also learned the phrases "Go Big Red" and "Stomp ’Em" to develop a connection between them and the district’s high school.
"We call them the Class of 2018, so they’ll know, ‘This is when I’m going to graduate. This is part of my future,’" she said. "We’re trying to get them fired up about being a part of Big Red."
Fair Street fourth-grader Emanuel Nuñez addressed his card to Gainesville linebacker Alberto Sanabria. Davis said Sanabria aspires to become a doctor, and serves as a wonderful role model for young students.
"They’re the best," Emanuel said of the team. "I hope they win."
Davis, who also is a cheerleading sponsor for Gainesville High, said the Gainesville school district is providing a spirit bus for students to take to the Georgia Dome on Saturday. The bus ride plus a ticket to the game costs students $20.
An elephant walk for the players is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. on Saturday at Gainesville High.