Norwood Elementary teams up with Yamaha to teach kids how to ride bikes (WBIR / WATE)
OLIVER SPRINGS, Tenn. — Kindergarteners and first-graders at Norwood Elementary School in Oliver Springs received a big surprise.
"I have been getting kids asking me all week, 'What's happening? What is our surprise?' and to see their faces when they took off the parachute today was so exciting," said Lyndsay Foust, the Principal at Norwood Elementary.
The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative donated 24 bikes to Norwood as part of their All Kids Bike initiative. The school says right now, students are learning the basics of balancing on a bike and using their feet to move it.
Once they have balanced down, pedals will be added.
"Some of them said they have never been on one before, so by doing the balance part first it really works on that core strength," Foust said, "So, once they implement the pedals about halfway through the program, they're going to better successfully ride the bike, feel less intimidated and feel more comfortable."
Yamaha said that, along with the bikes, they've also given the school curriculum to help teach the kids how to use them step by step.
"Along with these bikes they also get a full line up of new helmets and then it's introduced right into the curriculum for their PE teacher to coach and teach these kids how to learn how to ride a bike and how to ride it safely," said Dan Rivito the Destination Yamaha Manager for Yamaha Motor Company.
Foust said the bikes are already getting kids more excited for physical education.
"I think they were totally shocked, and overwhelmed. Some were disappointed that they can't take them home, but I told them that just gives them something to look forward to coming to school and going to PE class each day."
And the kids said they're ready to get started
"I'm looking forward to first, riding them and then getting the training wheels and then riding them without the training wheels," said Rylee Foust, a first grader at Norwood.
THE COURIER NEWS
Donation puts Norwood students in motion
BY BEN POUNDS
Physical education teacher Zan Braden leads Norwood Elementary School students as they try out new bicycles donated by Yamaha. (photo:Ben Pounds )
Norwood Elementary School students are learning the art of cycling, fitness and balance with a donation of 24 new bikes and helmets from Yamaha.
Officials from Yamaha, Windrock Park and the school system gathered in the school’s gym to unveil the bicycles on Wednesday, March 25.
Yamaha Motor Corporation partnered with Windrock Park to bring its program “All Kids Bike” to the school.
Norwood Principal Lindsasy Foust said the bikes and accessories cost more than $9,000, but Yamaha had funded the program fully.
She said she was grateful for the partnership.
“This brings something educational, fun, [and] exciting, and will provide students with a lifelong skill that will carry them and something they can use for the rest of their life,” she said.
For now, the bikes lack pedals or training wheels.
Students at the event walked while seated on them, cirlcling around the gym. Physical education teacher Zan Braden led them.
He told The Courier News the pedal-free bikes help the students practice balance so that they know what they’re doing when they get the pedals.
“Once everybody gets kind of comfortable with being able to balance, we add the pedals in,” he said.
He said he also hopes the experience helps the students to gain confidence.
“Some of them might see the bikes and they might be intimidated at first, but as we practice it and learn it, just like any other skill, the more you do it, the better you get,” Braden said.
“That’s my favorite thing about PE classes,” he said. “When they struggle through a skill and then they learn it. And seeing the smiles on their faces.”
Foust said the “All Kids Bike” curriculum was for eight weeks.
The bikes stay at the school and multiple classes of kindergarten and first-grade students will use them.
Dan Ravito, Destination Yamaha manager, said the bikes have a lifespan of around 10 years.
He estimated that the school system could instruct 300 children using them during that time.
Even though the cycling activities were in the gym, Foust hoped the program would encourage enthusiasm for the Oliver Springs area’s trails.
“We have so many beautiful areas around us where students can go explore the outdoors and ride their bikes,” Foust said.
Ravito said the program is in operation nationwide, and so far 35 schools have received bikes from it.
“It’s something we want to make available to as many schools as possible,” he said.
He said Windrock Park is a partner for the Destination Yamaha division of Yamaha, which rents out vehicles for offroading trips.
Windrock Park informed Yamaha about the school as a site for the program.
Samantha Collins, marketing manager for Windrock, said her company aimed to be a good community partner for Norwood Elementary.