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- Bike Programs Rolling - Flag Football - Active Summer -

- Think Breakfast - Federal COVID Mandates Ending -


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Youth Mountain Biking is gearing up in Chautauqua County


Thanks to local mountain bike enthusiasts, shops and various grants, schools are rolling out programs to get kids on bike and into area trails...maybe into a few competitions. 


Falconer Central Schools and Chautauqua Lake Schools recently obtained fleets of mountain bikes and helmets through two separate grant programs, and are teaching students balance, focus, strength training and bike maintenance.


Chautauqua Lake School has a fleet of traditional mountain bikes and a set of 12 "fat bikes" which allow students to mountain bike in the woods during winter. Students learn to ride these bikes as part of their regular school physical education curriculum.  


In addition to the bikes, Chautauqua Lake used the support from the Chautauqua Health Network to facilitate field trips to local trails around the county, and invested in a campus adventure trail system for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, trail running, and snowshoeing.  


"One of our county's most important and valuable resources is our vast network of trails and forests. While learning to ride a bike is an important skill, whether for exercise or transportation, we also want our students to enjoy all that our County has to offer within our greenway system of trails," says Rachel Curtin, Principal of Chautauqua Lake Secondary School. 


“Through collaboration with the Chautauqua Health Network, the Western New York Mountain Bicycling Association, Chautauqua Rails to Trails, Chautauqua Greenways, Next Level Mountain Biking, and Loud Performance, our students are enjoying the woods and learning to pedal through and find adventure in the challenging and dynamic conditions of mountain biking.”


LOUD Performance Cycle in nearby Bemus Point. Owner Dee Dippler says his shop provides maintenance for the Chautauqua Lake training bikes, and much more. “We have a Wednesday night kids’ series where we put kids into three group levels for different age and ability levels. Parents are welcome to ride, but group leaders allow kids to be dropped off and enjoy some independence and . a snack after the rides.”


This year Falconer obtained 30 bikes and 100 helmets to outfit their student bike program. Similar to CHS’s mission, it’s designed to teach road safety along with all the other health benefits. Mary Plumb, a district administrator who facilitated the grant, says the bikes were obtained through a nonprofit called Outride. 


Co-founded in 2012 by Mike Sinyard, Specialized CEO, Outride began investigating how bike riding could become an important part of a comprehensive therapy program for kids with ADHD, a problem that Sinyard faced in his personal life. Outride is advancing the understanding of how riding bikes can help improve the social, emotional, and physical well-being of children.


Taking kids on bikes beyond the school setting, Sean Hricko, an Assembly Operations Leader at the Jamestown Cummins Engine plant, is organizing a regional team though the National Inter Collegiate Cycling Association. “I’d like to use this momentum of schools and introduce fun competition and good trail stewardship as well as a bit of travel to other areas for weekend races."


Visit these websites for more information

https://outridebike.org

https://nationalmtb.org


Or email

Shawn Hricko

Falconer's Mary Plumb

CLC Principal Rachel Curtin



Spring football has no signs of flagging


When Diana Flores, the quarterback of Mexico’s National Flag Football Team, sprinted across television screens during Super Bowl halftime, the commercial promoted girl’s high school athletics into flag football. With the help of the Buffalo Bills and the NFL’s new Flag Football initiative, the sport is continuing to grow and has arrived in the CHQ. 


This spring, girls from Jamestown, Southwestern, Fredonia, Cassadaga Valley, Clymer/Sherman/Panama and Chautauqua Lake are competing in a Pilot Division for girls-only flag football.


Prior to the season kick off, teams from Section VI and Section V were invited to the Buffalo Bills ADPRO Sports Training Center and treated to an introduction, ran drills, scrimmaged, and met some of the Bills players. For the local teams it served as some of their first live action against opponents.


“The NFL has made a huge push,” Fredonia head coach Nick Bertrando said. “Having Buffalo in our backyard is phenomenal, everything the Bills do in our region to promote the sport, it was very classy on the Bills and NFL’s part. A couple of Bills players also gave some words of wisdom as the girls embark on this new journey.”


Read more here


Remaining flag football schedule:

CDC has tips for keeping kids active in the summer


We all know staying active promotes a healthy lifestyle and helps children maintain their physical and mental well-being. In addition, it promotes socialization, teamwork, and self-esteem providing a fun and engaging way for kids to interact with their peers, learn new skills, and build confidence in their abilities. Here are some physical fitness activities suitable for children between the ages of 5 and 12.


  •  Design an obstacle course with hoops, cones, ropes, and more.
  • Fill up a bunch of water balloons and play volleyball. 
  • Turn up the music and dance. 
  • Host a scavenger hunt. 
  • Do frisbee golf with targets of hoops or buckets.
  • Have a jump rope contest. 
  • Introduce your kids to yoga with some simple poses.
  • Put on a backyard Olympics.
  • Cool off by doing an aqua Zumba class. 
  • Go on a family bike ride exploring neighborhoods or trails. 



Read more at the CDC's website

NYS Ed wants parents to "Think Breakfast" through new program


The NYS Department of Education’s Child Nutrition Program has developed a program - Think Breakfast! To help. Teachers can access a custom package that includes materials helping students learn the benefits of breakfast.


The free, three-week program motivating students includes: 


  • Program guide of activities
  • Interactive digital media
  • Classroom posters
  • Agenda/activity booklet
  • Breakfast wall chart 
  • Motivational rewards
  • Fun interactive games – online/mobile device


The Think Breakfast! website also provides resources for teachers, parents, and students that aren’t enrolled in the program including nutrition facts and healthy recipes, a portion size chart, and craft ideas.  For kids, the website includes, grab, and go breakfast ideas, apps and games, videos, fun activities, and an interactive story. This program can foster teamwork, create a healthy school, and develop lifetime health habits.


Visit https://www.cn.nysed.gov/content/think-breakfast for these and more resources

Many federal COVID mandates ending


The Biden administration will end most of the last remaining federal COVID-19 vaccine requirements. Vaccine requirements for federal workers and federal contractors, as well as foreign air travelers to the U.S., will end May 11. The government is also beginning the process of lifting shot requirements for Head Start educators, healthcare workers, and noncitizens at U.S. land borders.


The requirements are among the last measures taken by the federal government to promote vaccination and moving to treat COVID-19 as a routine, endemic illness. “While I believe that these vaccine mandates had a tremendous beneficial impact, we are now at a point where we think that it makes a lot of sense to pull these requirements down,” said White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha.


The vaccination requirements were imposed by Biden in successive waves in late 2022 as the nation’s vaccination rate plateaued even amid the emergence of new, more transmissible variants of COVID-19.


Click on link for 2022-2023 Frequently Asked Questions related to COVID-19 and schools. A good document to review and refresh with administrative staff and teaching staff.


For more information, click here

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