L’Anse Creuse school hosts Leap Day event
Emma V. Lobbestael Elementary School students leaped into March by celebrating Leap Day on Feb. 29, with toy frog jumping competitions and other activities.
“For some reason this year we thought it would be fun. It also ties into our Positivity Project, that was cheering on others’ success. It tied in to social and emotional goals,” Beverly Polega, school principal, said.
Emma V. Lobbestael Elementary School is part of the L’Anse Creuse Public Schools district and located in Harrison Township. Polega said every student in the school received their own plastic jumping frog toy. Each classroom, K-5, held a toy frog jumping competition. Students who won these were selected to represent their grade level during a schoolwide assembly in the gym.
“Every student in the building received a frog. Everyone participated in the classroom competitions. The teachers did that within their own classrooms,” Polega said.
Grade levels participated in a frog toy jumping competition during the schoolwide assembly. Polega said there are about two classes per grade level at the school. The winners of this competition advanced to the schoolwide toy frog jumping competition during the assembly.
“We had hula hoops on the floor, and the goal was to get the frog into the hula hoop. One did and one was close,” Polega said.
The top two winners of the schoolwide competition — first grader Summer Forton and third grader Rheagan Vallone — earned a popcorn party for their classroom.
Individual classrooms also held some of their own unique Leap Day activities, some of which involved measurements and some of which involved learning new Leap Day facts.
“We played on a little bit of words, like ‘Jump on down’ or ‘Hope you’re having a hoppy day,” Polega said.
Staff were able to get in on the Leap Day fun and learning by participating in a trivia competition. Polega said she would read a question about Leap Day over the school public address system, and teachers would respond by contacting the office. Sometimes instead of a question, staff were asked to find something or do something related to Leap Day, such as finding the most unique frog object in their classroom. She added some of the unique frog objects submitted included erasers and picture books. Winners received prizes.
“It was just a fun way to share some facts about Leap Day, and also get students and staff involved. Several adults came back or texted me to say ‘Thanks for a fun day,’” Polega said. “It only comes up once every four years.”