Every Monday the gym at Pope John Paul II School transforms into a circus. That's because Rooke Pitura and his crew of clowns fill up the gym with circus fun. Between 25 - 30 students from Pope John Paul II School, St. Louis School and École Ste-Marguerite Bourgeoys attend the after school program. The students are learning to walk on stilts, ride a unicycle, juggle, spin plates and so much more. They are also having a lot of fun just clowning around.
Here is what a few of our circus clowns had to say about their after school program:
"I really like trying the different
things at Circus Kids. Flower sticks are my favorite. It's really tricky to learn flower sticks because one side has to be higher than the other. I also love the hula hoop competitions that we have." ~Bryce, grade 4 student from École Ste-Marguerite Bourgeoys
"I love riding the unicycle. That is my favorite part. It has taken me a few months to really get good at balancing because it only has 1 wheel. I also like spending time with my friends at Circus Kids club." ~Reid, grade 4 student from Pope John Paul II School
"I love the hula hoop because it's so much fun." ~Amanda, grade 6 student from Pope John Paul II School
"I love it all. I love
the stilt walking, the diablo and the plates. It's just a lot of fun at Circus Kids." ~Heidi, grade 5 student from Pope John Paul II School
"It's becoming harder and harder to keep our youth engaged in physical activities," says Rooke Pitura, Circus Kids Lead. "What we are seeing in Circus Kids is 100 per cent engagement. The kids in this program can't help but participate because it's so much fun. The Circus Kids program is inclusive for all students and sports abilities and it's based on laughter, play and fun. It's been a really huge success this year."
The Circus Kids program began at the beginning of the school year and was scheduled to end in December but because it was so successful it has been extended into the spring. Not only is the program effective at getting students physically active and creating a sense of community but it also fits into the board's mental health strategy.
"The program is a great way for students to enjoy making new friends and building confidence by learning circus activities and it supports the board's overall strategy for children's mental health," says Sue Devlin, Mental Health Lead. "The Circus Kids program is a great opportunity for our students because it allows them to succeed in a safe and supportive environment. The program teaches kids never to give up. In fact, a 'circus swear' is when a student says 'I can't' because everyone can succeed in Circus Kids. What's really great about the program is that the children teach each other the circus skills and encourage each other along the way by creating a sense of success and community."
The students are ramping up their efforts to master their circus skills. They are getting ready to perform at St. Thomas Aquinas High School's Street Fest event on June 3rd.
The Circus Kids program recently received a $1,000 grant from the Northwestern Health Unit for the Northwest Strong Healthy Kids Community Challenge. The grant was provided to Circus Kids because the program promoted physical activity for children in Northwestern Ontario. Pitura said the money will be used to purchase enough Circus Kids gear so all three schools can have a Circus Kids program.
This short video captures only a small snapshot of the energy and fun of Circus Kids. You can see some unicycling and balloon jousting, stilt walking, and hula hoop activity: