Todd Students Participate In The National Circus Project

Press release from the Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District:

Have you heard? The circus is in town!

The National Circus Project, that is.

The entire student body at Todd School recently had a chance to hone their circus skills, such as scarf juggling, walking on stilts and even tightrope walking, at a special workshop held during physical education class.

Prior to the workshop, which was generously funded by the PTA, students practiced in class with some of the school-owned circus equipment and had an assembly where they watched a live performance by the workshop facilitators, who are also acrobats and circus performers.

The workshop, which has been a yearly tradition at Todd for over 15 years, involved multiple activities that the students were familiar with. New this year is a tightrope, placed very close to the ground, and is available for all students. Prior to walking on it, students received a crash course with some tips, and then proceeded to walk on it, with the help of their teachers.

With four years of experience under their belts, fifth graders in Cindy Yaeger and Sara Gooyandeh’s classes enthusiastically spun plates, swung hula hoops on their hips and tossed diabolos.

“Some of the equipment, such as stilts and diabolos, is used only by students in grades three to five,” said physical education teacher Michelle Hiltsley. “We modify the activities based on the students’ grade levels.”

“It’s fun,” said Ishan. “I like the stilts because you have to balance on them. I remember doing this when I was younger – it was a lot harder. My advice for kids in younger grades is to keep trying.”

This press release was produced by the Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.