As spring finally arrived this year, healthy community-building traditions rolled out in full force for Kenwood Community School’s students and their families.
Each morning as weather permitted, students who rode the bus were dropped off at the northwest corner of Kenwood Park to participate in the “Woodchuck Walk,” an opportunity for students to walk to school, led by school staff and caregiver volunteers.
Many classrooms walked to the DNR School Forest on a weekly basis to observe seasonal changes in the woods, feed the orioles and plant native trees and bushes. In partnership with ARTrageous Adventures, students painted ArtRocks! and placed them along the trails near Cedar Lake East Beach for a temporary art installation for all to enjoy. The whole school benefits from hikes to the lake and the woods!
Kenwood’s annual spring picnic welcomed all families to a light dinner provided by the Minneapolis Public Schools food truck. At the picnic, students and their caregivers could plant seeds to take home, play on the playground, listen to music performed by the fifth-grade band and multi-grade singers and socialize with their school community.
Exciting annual physical education traditions include the “pits and alleys” obstacle course set up the first week of May in the gym, and the all-school track and field day at Kenwood Park, where students compete with their classmates in events such as kicking and throwing contests, obstacle courses, and potato sack and three-legged races. “We want students to compete, but the emphasis is on sportsmanship and having fun in the sun,” said physical education teacher Mr. Kramka.
Kramka continued, “We are fortunate to be able to provide our students with opportunities to get moving and challenge their skills in ways that aren’t traditional “gym class.” Our hope is that this variety of experiences not only increases their physical fitness today but contributes to an appreciation of the outdoors that will benefit them for life.”
