The R.A.I.S.E core values are a staple of the academics and athletics in Montgomery County. R.A.I.S.E promotes academic achievement, athletic excellence, positive sportsmanship, and upstanding citizenship. MCPS is making an effort to promote positive cultures in our schools. There is a reason that there are 25 WeRaise banners across the county, and more will be coming as the values are accepted and promoted by every school in Montgomery County.

The first part of the core values are “Respect and Sportsmanship.” This is an important part of MCPS sports and academics. Student athletes not only have to show respect in the classroom but also have to demonstrate it on the field; respect for the referees and respect for the opponents. On the field it is important to set an example for your teammates and understand that referees are not perfect and they do make mistakes. “Showing sportsmanship and setting an example for the younger players is my responsibility,” senior soccer captain Andy Ram said.

The “A” in the core values is “Academic Excellence,” which is another important value in trying to promote academic achievement. Student athletes need to focus on school as well as their sport. Academic excellence can be something hard to achieve for any student athlete, but with hard work and dedication any academic or athletic goal is achievable. Athletes need to show the same effort in the classroom as they do on the field, because it creates a good academic environment and makes everyone around the school strive for excellence. “I think that academic excellence is important because being able to have the discipline to do your own work in the classroom allows you to do better in school and on the field,” junior baseball player Brian Garmer said.

“Integrity and Character” represent the “I” in R.A.I.S.E, Integrity is “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.” Having integrity is an important characteristic and can also help someone in their social life, on the field, and in the classroom. If a student is known for having no integrity in the classroom, then the teacher may look for him to cheat or not believe them when they lose their homework or ask to turn in a paper a day later. Integrity is an important part of daily lives and can help student athletes establish their reputation. “Being honest and having a good moral values helps me have good relationships with my teachers, and builds trust within that relationship,” sophomore baseball player Brady Weiss said.

The “S” represents “spirited and safe competition.” This runs closely with sportsmanship, but still needs its own category as it is an important value. Safe competition is sometimes a big problem at large sporting events as the athletes get too into the game and starts fights. Safe competition is something that Montgomery County officials hope for, as it helps the fans enjoy the games and the players come out without any serious injury.

And finally the last value is “Equity and Access.” This allows for students to have a chance to make a difference and play in each and every sport. If a student wants to tryout for basketball they should be allowed to get the chance to show their skills. Equity and access should be an essential value at every school and should not be overlooked.

If you see a student demonstrating any of these R.A.I.S.E core values post a picture of them on twitter and tag @MCPSAthletics with the caption #WeRaise.