Grant helps Woodland Intermediate build climing wall

Thanks to a grant application by a teacher and work by the operations and facilities staff, Woodland Intermediate students, including those with special needs, have the opportunity to use a new traverse climbing wall.

"The Trustmark Impact Grant of up to $1,000 is designed to promote healthy lifestyles for children, and it provides opportunities for all Intermediate students to challenge themselves by climbing on the traverse climbing walls. This exciting addition to the physical education curriculum promotes the idea of all students expanding their fitness levels," said Woodland Intermediate's Susan Banks, the adapted physical education instructor who applied for the grant.

At Woodland Intermediate, adapted physical education students with autism, intellectual differences or physical challenges will use the wall as part of Wednesday's variety skill development games.

Other themes for the students are basketballs on Mondays, therapy balls on Tuesdays, hula-hoops and scooters on Thursdays, and large parachute games on Fridays.

"Strength and endurance, coordination, and sensory processing used on climbing the wall can benefit all ages and abilities," Banks said.

Woodland Primary gym and gyms at Elementary East and West all have traverse climbing walls, and the middle school has a vertical climbing wall and rope/wood climbing apparatus. However, the Intermediate school did not have a traverse climbing wall until now.

Banks worked with Joe Rejczyk, who co-teaches the adapted P.E. class, other Intermediate physical education teachers, as well as Principal Mike Witkowski and Assistant Principal Tim Tyrell, on the project, which included removing gym bleachers in both the east and west gyms to make way for the 10-foot-high wall that stretches for 31 feet.

Installation occurred last month by operations and facilities staff Chuck Martin, assisted by Linda Cramer and Oktay Erol. Martin researched installation of the hand and foot holds using the safest and strongest method possible, Banks said.

The next step, Banks said, is to incorporate a mural onto the traverse climbing walls.

For more information, contact Susan Banks at (847) 856-4141.

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