{"id":11075,"date":"2020-12-01T18:29:28","date_gmt":"2020-12-02T02:29:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=11075"},"modified":"2020-12-01T18:29:28","modified_gmt":"2020-12-02T02:29:28","slug":"s-b-middle-school-pedals-through-the-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=11075","title":{"rendered":"S.B. Middle School Pedals Through the Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"S.B.<\/a>

S.B. Middle School Pedals Through the Pandemic, originally published in Santa Barbara Independent on November 19, 2020.<\/p><\/div>\n

Riviera Campus Finds Creative\u00a0Challenges to Keep Kids Active<\/strong><\/p>\n

Getting teens and tweens outside and active is particularly\u00a0challenging during the days of COVID,\u00a0so Santa Barbara Middle School<\/a> (SBMS) \u2014 well known\u00a0for embarking on pedal-powered learning\u00a0adventures \u2014 challenged students to ride at least 26\u00a0miles during the month of September, while they were\u00a0still learning from home. (They returned to in-person
\nclasses in October.)<\/p>\n

The 26-mile marker is approximately the same distance\u00a0students normally ride for their two-day orientation\u00a0bike ride, explained Communications Manager\u00a0Merritt Bauer<\/a>. Since the pandemic restrictions shut\u00a0down that activity, they decided to use the Strava app<\/a> to
\nchallenge students and families to ride at least 26 miles.<\/p>\n

\u201cFamilies were very into it,\u201d said Bauer. Providing\u00a0even further incentive, they had the kids vote on what\u00a0the prize would be if they hit their total goal of 5,000\u00a0miles of activity within the month. \u201cPrizes were everything\u00a0from a dunk tank to having our headmaster dress\u00a0up in a pink gorilla suit for a week, which is exactly what\u00a0ended up being the winning choice,\u201d she laughed.<\/p>\n

The challenge \u2014 which allowed other physical activities\u00a0such as surfing, hiking, walking,
\nand even golf to be logged\u00a0\u2014 ended up exceeding their goal\u00a0by almost 800 miles. \u201cWe had all\u00a0of our families participate in over\u00a0800 individual activities, which I\u00a0think is pretty incredible,\u201d said\u00a0Bauer.<\/p>\n

As a celebration when the\u00a0Strava challenge was complete,\u00a0and with strict and complicated
\nhealth and safety mandates\u00a0firmly in place, staff and students\u00a0were able to do some bike rides in\u00a0small groups. \u201cWe actually ended\u00a0up driving through Goleta on our\u00a0bikes and seeing a lot of SBMS\u00a0alums and families who know\u00a0our school and were screaming as\u00a0we biked past, \u2018We\u2019re so happy to\u00a0see you guys back on the road,\u2019 \u201d\u00a0said Bauer. \u201cIt was definitely positive\u00a0feedback all around just seeing\u00a0people in the community and our families who had\u00a0just been dying to get our kids back together.\u201d<\/p>\n

When they ended their rides at Goleta Beach, as promised,\u00a0Head of School Brian McWilliams<\/a> was there to greet\u00a0them in a pink gorilla suit, jumping hairy feet first into the
\nocean with the kids on the final day.<\/p>\n

\"SB<\/a>

SB Independent Cover, Schools of Thought, November 19, 2020.<\/p><\/div>\n

Originally published in the Santa Barbara Independent<\/em><\/a> on November 19, 2020. To read the section as it appeared in print, please click here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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