NEWS RELEASE
ST. VRAIN VALLEY SCHOOLS
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Longs Peak Middle School is partnering with Bicycle Longmont and YMCA of Longmont to host the 42nd edition of its annual kid’s holiday bicycle giveaway. This year’s event is taking place in the west parking lot of the Longmont YMCA from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Students have been meeting weekly on Thursdays since October, working in groups of two or three to change bike tires, repair broken chains, and replace old bike grips.
Although the name of the club suggests that the program is about bikes, it is really about increasing student engagement and helping them build relationships with each other and their community. “Bike Shop is something everyone can connect to, everyone likes bikes. Everyone knows someone who needs a bike,” explains Sandy Heiser, Longs Peak Middle School Principal. “It fills in a need because students learn how to maintain a bike and match it with a rider.”
The Bike Shop shows students how to collaborate with each other to solve real-world problems while they develop strong bonds with the community and discover their sense of self. Making these social-emotional strides helps students achieve more both academically and socially. The program pushes students to begin thinking about and preparing for their future, and motivates them to contribute to their community. “In Colorado, everyone likes bikes and kids do too. They know what they are talking about, and it’s a super relatable and relevant topic,” says Heiser.
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