A GIFT OF BIKES
Kindergartners learn how to ride
Centennial Elementary School Principal Carmen Polka gathered the school’s kindergartners into the gym Thursday afternoon for a special surprise. When they walked in they were treated to a large multi-colored play parachute covering a series of unknown objects.
Polka went on to talk to the young kids about the importance of being active and staying healthy, and said they had some special guests bringing some special things just for that purpose. When the parachute was pulled away, the group of kindergarten students lit up, smiling, laughing and clapping with many joining in together to joyously yell “It’s bikes!”
All Kids Bike, a national nonprofit teaching kindergarten students how to ride bikes during PE class, brought its All Kids Bike Learn-to-ride Kindergarten PE Program to Centennial on Thursday thanks to a $100,000 donation from the Yamaha Motor Corporation to offer the program to 11 schools across the country during the 2023-2024 school year, according to a release from the nonprofit.
“We are always happy when a donor comes forward,” said Kari Hall, public relations manager for the nonprofit. “We are really excited they are creating this ripple effect of positive change in the community.”
The Learn-to-ride program launched in 2018 with the goal of giving every American child the chance to learn how to ride a bike in school. Each school involved in the program receives teacher training and certification, a collection of 24 Strider bikes, pedal conversion kits, helmets, an instructional bike and helmet for the teacher, two rolling metal bike storage racks and access to a resource portal and live support for the life of the program, according to the release.
The program was sponsored locally by Tri-city Cycle, a Loveland Yamaha dealer and recreational vehicle seller, whose representatives both assembled the fleet of bikes for the elementary school students and unveiled them Thursday afternoon.
This is not the first school the company has brought the All Kids Bike program to, with a similar donation given to Columbine Elementary School in Longmont last December.
Polka said she was contacted by Tri-city about being the recipient of the bikes, and she gratefully accepted in the pursuit of instilling the importance of health and wellness in her students.
“It is cool to help her out and choose this school,” business owner Brady Welton, who previously lived next to Polka, said ahead of the donation Thursday.
“To be able to provide this opportunity for the local kids is extremely exciting,” said Rachelle Bean, marketing and events manager at Tri-city. “A lot of our associates have grown up in the area, so to pay it forward is a really fun opportunity.”
Throughout the afternoon, the gathered and giddy schoolkids first learned how to safely enjoy riding their bikes, including how to properly wear a helmet, before finally getting to hop on the seat and then taking off.
The sounds of glee rang through the school gym as students zipped around, pushing the pedal-less bikes with their feet as they raced in a circle together. The bikes are without pedals to serve as training bikes to get children used to riding but can have pedals attached later.
“It is incredible,” said music and kindergarten PE teacher Mike Robertson. “It touches my heart when anybody in the community reaches out to the elementary students in any setting, because this is where impressionistic moments happen.”
While most of the kindergarten students were focused on enjoying the ride, 6-year-old Westin Groce told the Reporter-herald he was having a great time.
“We can go as fast as we want,” he added.
For those involved, getting the kids onto bikes and learning how to get active was a positive thing that will expand beyond just a new skill.
Polka said that getting kids used to bilateral movement, or using both sides of the body simultaneously, is an important tool so they can get used to using both sides of their bodies and brains.
“One of the crucial components for kindergarten and elementary is that sense of balance,” Robertson said. “I think of when I learned to ride a bike or when I taught my kids how to ride a bike, it is a really empowering skill.”
Lanie Conroy and Kelly Blanks, both kindergarten teachers at Centennial, agreed that getting the kids active and moving is a good that will stretch past just one day.
“Movement is what all kids need,” Conroy said. “Our bodies are made to move and they need that.”
“It is giving all (the kids) a chance to do something they might otherwise not have the opportunity to do,” Blanks added about the program coming to Centennial.
Members of the Tri-city team said they were happy to get kids not only active during the school day, but encouraging them to get out and have fun.
“I love seeing kids get outside and smiling,” Welton said. “Get off their ipads and phones and enjoy what being a kid is all about.”
“It has to start from somewhere,” Bean said. “Not all homes are privileged enough to provide that, so we are hoping through this opportunity through local schools we are able to get more kids outside, get them excited about being active and just get them out there.”