Inline Skating Notebook

Middle school students skate for education

(Dec. 25, 2009)

Detroit Lakes Middle School has again teamed up with Skatetime School Programs in its continuing effort to bring fun and valuable physical education opportunities to its students.

Grades 6-8 at the Detroit Lakes Middle School participated in the Skatetime School Programs, rollerblading during physical education class.

All students in grades 6-8 are developing skating skills on inline skates, or rollerblades, during a unit that the DLMS physical educators have been teaching each December for the past several years.

Of the estimated 600 students at DLMS, over 100 said this is the only time they get to do any type of skating throughout the year.

“It was such a popular unit with all our kids,” commented teacher Nick Courneya. “From hockey players to beginning skaters — everyone smiled as their skills improved.”

The unit addresses the goal of the physical education curriculum at DLMS to provide students with a balance of essential skills in several lifetime activities from archery to yoga.

Teacher Patty Mollberg added, “PE has changed so much in the last 20 years, and this is just one of several unique opportunities we give our kids at DLMS. If we taught only competitive team sports we’d miss a lot of our kids. We teach dozens of different activities so every student develops skills and knowledge necessary to pick a couple things they like to do to stay active with their loved ones for the rest of their lives.”

The rollerblading unit lasts 8-10 days each year, and the cost is $9 per student. DLMS would like to thank parents and the Native American Club at the high school for supporting this great opportunity for our kids every year. This year alone we had over 70 students whose fees were paid by donations. We couldn’t do this without their help.
DL-Online Detroit Lakes, Minnesota : Middle school students skate for education
Skate in School: California Department of Education Study (Dec. 10, 2002)

http://www.skateinschool.com/ Skate in School The In-Line Skating Program for Schools Developed by Rollerblade and NASPE. Watch this video, prepared by Gale Strain at Liberty Middle School in Orlando, Florida, highlighting her Skate in School program. Gale is a "Roll Model" ambassador for Skate in School, and her school is one of more than 20 in Orange County, Florida, with the program. The Skate in Schools Program http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx6RYCUttyA