Keeping active is an important component in staying healthy. Each year, the Ridgefield School District physical education department does its part to keep the community active with an evening of fun activities, games, and sports.
\r\nFamilies gathered together to kick off the evening with a sample of the night’s activities. Team Rock Paper Scissors got everyone involved in a fast-paced rock paper scissors relay across the gym, and Funky Friday Line Dancing taught them a four-walled line dance. Then families could pick and choose from a wide range of activities across the gyms and Commons at Sunset Ridge Intermediate School and View Ridge Middle School. \r\n
\r\nPE teachers Ed Bate, Jesse Buck, Jerry DeShazer, Mary Murray, Ami Remmers, and Catherine Rinker led a wide variety of games and sports. Speedball was a fast-moving game with hockey goals and ultimate frisbee rules. Spikeball had teams playing foursquare style ball—but bouncing it on a mini trampoline. Beanbag Pass let even the youngest kids participate, tossing beanbags from one team member to the next.
\r\n
Spikeball combines foursquare with a mini-trampoline for even more fun.
\r\n
Teams get ready to grab a spot in the Beanbag Pass.
\r\n
The gym was filled with families playing Badminton and Pickleball.
\r\nStudents were able to teach their families how to do some of the activities they did in PE class. PE Games and Fitness Testing showcased the Challenge Run, Fitness Challenges, and Capture the Flag. Badminton and Pickleball courts were set up for racket sports. And Yoga classes for all ages were led by Kristi Herron and Mandi Debord from MK Elevate, a downtown yoga studio.
\r\nThe end of the evening was filled with dozens of giveaways from local sponsors. Gift cards and prizes from Rosauers, ME, Lava Java, Kids Club Fun and Fitness, Ridgefield Barber Company, Tri-Mountain Golf Course, Pine Crest Golf Course, Battle Ground Cinema, The Source, MK Elevate, Steelscape, and the Birds and the Beans Café. Funding was also provided by Ridgefield Community Education, The Ridge Sunset Ridge-View Ridge Association, and the Union Ridge Parent Teacher Organization. The grand prize of the evening was a pair of Portland Timbers tickets, donated by Dr. Jared Remmers, DPM. \r\n
\r\nWith games and sports for all ages and abilities, families had lots of new options for activities to try together. The PE Showcase inspired students and families to have fun by getting moving. After the event, a child jumped happily down the steps outside the school. “That was fun!” he yelled. “More jumps! More fun!” Hopefully many families will take that message home with them, finding many more fun ways to be active. \r\n