One of the things that sets our programs a part from others is our continued commitment to providing our students with opportunities to experience the world. One of the unique ways in which we do this is to provide our students with Cheerleading as a competitive sport. We were the first afterschool program in Oakland to offer cheerleading to our students as an enrichment activity, and six years later, continue to be the ONLY afterschool program that does so.

Along with cheerleading our programs offer students and their families the opportunity to travel and compete all over the state. We have participated in competitions all over the state in the past 6 years, and each time our students come home with trophy’s and the experience of a lifetime which they can never forget! We take pride in what we do and we work hard to provide these unique life experiences for our families!

Read below as each of our sites that offer cheerleading share their stories from this year’s competitions!
 

The New Highland Hawks of New Highland academy ASP has 10 cheerleaders ranging from ages 7 to 8 years old. These ten girls have never cheered before or been in a group like setting where they had to depend on each other with full confidence to become a team.  To get ready for their first ever competition, the girls practiced in the dance room, and the stage for 2 hours a day, 3 times a week.  The girls first practiced just to get acquainted with one another. Then they were taught to trust one another before they were coached on dance routines.   Once the routines started to come together the girls were entered into the Jamz Nationals Championship in Stockton California. 
 

 The Competition took place on April 1^st, 2017.  The girls took a road trip to Stockton where they performed for the first time in front of a packed stadium of about 100 people. The girls had to go back stage to practice before they went on stage.  Once the girls heard their name being called they ran out on the stage and waited for their music to begin.  The girls did an amazing job performing on stage forgetting that they had suffered a quick bout of stage fright just before going on.  After the performance was over the girls felt sad and didn’t think that they did well.  For the trophy ceremony the girls were called down onto the mat.   The announcer said “for first place in the poms division the NEW HIGHLAND HAWKS the girls all started crying and hugging one another yelling “we won we won!” The girls couldn’t believe they were that good!

 

 For our second Competition, we entered the girls into the Sharp international competition Knott’s Berry Farm in Los Angeles California.  The girls practiced even harder for the next 4 weeks to make their dance better. The girls took to the road and traveled 357 miles to Los Angeles at 4 am in the morning on May 5^th, 2017.  Once in LA the girls took a trip thedowntown Hollywood to the walk of fame where they took pictures with animated characters like. Bat girl, Wonder Woman, Beetle juice, Edward Scissor hand and many more movie characters.  They were able to receive sweat shirts for their team.  The Competition was on Saturday May 6, 2017.  The girls waited with anxiety for several hours before they performed.  Once they took the stage.  Once on the stage the girls were memorized and made the crowd love them.  They danced, smiled, cart wheeled into the audience’s heart with their cute uniform and routine.  Once the performance was over you could see the tears of joy in their parent’s eyes.  The girls were great.  They have an amazing 11 year old coach.  Once the girls heard that they won first place again at the Sharp competition they were over joyed.  They were dancing and singing. How proud they looked while taking pictures. for all of their family and friends.

 

Enjoy some of our images from our special events below...