The All Kids Bike Kindergarten Learn-to-Ride Program which includes a 24-fleet of Stryder bikes, pedal conversion kits, helmets, one teacher instruction bike, and certified curriculum teacher training is everything needed to teach kids how to progress from balance to riding a bike in 8 lessons at Frank Elementary. Funding for this program was graciously made by Lisa Malachowsky and her spouse, Bev Crair.
“I wanted to do something locally that gave back to the community,” Malachowsky said. “This is my community so it means a lot to me.”
Volunteers from Chasse construction team helped assemble bikes before they were revealed to students on Friday, Oct. 14 in the school’s gym. The Chasse team, who rebuilt the school in 2019, said they were honored to be able to give back to the Frank community.
“I’m so excited for these kids to have a healthy lifestyle and get the opportunity to learn how to ride a bike so that they can continue that exercise through their entire life,” said Chasse Business Development Manager Taylor Perkins.
The Kindergarten Learn-to-Ride Program will teach approximately 80 kindergarten students how to ride a bike on an annual basis. With the equipment lifespan of 7 to 10 years, this will impact up to 800 kids over the next decade.
Frank PE Teacher Nicole Gutierrez will incorporate the newly built Stryder bikes into her kindergarten curriculum. Students will start out learning how to ride the bikes in the gym with the goal of developing their skills to eventually add pedals.
Frank Elementary school staff and administration said they are thankful for the generous donation to their students. The bikes provide an opportunity not only for students to learn how to ride, but also to learn other important skills like personal responsibility and bike safety.
“It just warms your heart,” said Frank Principal Marta Jacobo-Smith, who applied for the program. “You know that people are out there also thinking of children and ready to support the community and the community’s children. That is an incredible thing.”
Learning how to ride a bike also offers students the chance to get exercise, a skill that will last them a lifetime.
“Bikes are freedom,” said Allison Ewers, Tempe Elementary School District Governing Board Vice President. “It represents independence and it represents the ability to keep your health.”
Community partners are essential to helping schools provide well-rounded support to students.
“Here at Tempe Elementary, we try to develop the whole child and these are experiences that will do that for [our students],” Ewers said.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up