District News

Grants fund new climbing wall in elementary gym

 

Sept. 26, 2011

Many children love to climb and from now on, they can do it in physical education class. Thanks to a series of grants secured by former East Hill Elementary principal Virginia Nyahay, students have a brand new 20 by 8-foot wooden climbing wall in the gym.

Physical education teacher Ellee Fichthorn said the state grants (totaling about $5,000) had to be used to enhance physical education programs that help fight childhood obesity. Mrs. Fichthorn, physical education teacher Kevin Stuttle, and Mrs. Nyahay discussed put up a climbing wall for almost 10 years.

"We had wanted to do some adventure thing with the grants and something the kids would really enjoy," Mrs. Fichthorn said. "As soon as we put it up, kids were walking by saying it was awesome."

Teachers can put numbers and letters on the new wall, so students can reinforce math and grammar skills while they're getting a workout. Students can't go higher than 3 feet off the ground and there are large thick mats on the gym floor just in case they fall/

"I think the magnetic numbers and letters will really help up," Mr. Stuttle said.

"It helps with cross-curricular teaching and this is a new activity that's completely different. I think everyone can be successful at at."