Tacony Academy Charter School recently hosted Points 4 Porter, a student–staff basketball game in memory of beloved teacher Alaine Porter. The school sold T-shirts and held a dress-down day to raise money for scholarships, awarded in Porter’s memory, for graduating eighth-grade students. Recipients will be announced at the graduation ceremony in June.
Porter was a K-8 substitute teacher and a long-term sub for a teacher on maternity leave. She passed away suddenly in 2023 at age 35.
Last October, the school opened “Porter’s Corner,” a newly built mini library dedicated in memory of the teacher, who loved to encourage students to read.
As for the game on Feb. 13, eighth-graders squared off against staff for two 20-minute halves, with real referees. Seventh- and eighth-graders, along with cheerleaders and members of Porter’s family, watched from bleachers. The rest of the students watched a broadcast from their classrooms.
The game was fun, but hard fought. One girl even broke her glasses during a scrum.
The staff, coached by principal Briana Kates, led big throughout the game, including 30-13 at halftime. Students staged a late rally, but the staff won, 44-37. The staff has won all three games that have been played.
At halftime, there was a dizzy bat race, as students and staff spun in circles and then tried to make a basket. ••
