Inclement weather no match for can-do spirit

The past two years many students in Chisago Lakes receiving Developmental Adapted Physical Education (DAPE) have participated in a DAPE Challenge with students from North Branch, Rush City, Pine City, and East Central. This year’s challenge was set for Pine City. The DAPE Challenge was supposed to be a fun day of activities designed just for them. Due to the weather in Pine City it was canceled.

At Lakeside Elementary, in Chisago City, 4th grade teacher Mark Nordby knew many of the DAPE students were looking forward to a fun day outside and a couple kids were crying in the hallway and he thought, "Heck, I'd be crying too." So, it dawned on him that his class had time and could get something pulled together. Everything was organized very quickly with ideas and support contributed by several staff. Nordby went straight into his 4th grade class, explained what was going on and asked them to brainstorm some fun activities that they could do. Once they had 8-10 activities on a sheet, he sent students to the gym and outside to collect the equipment, others to get prizes, while still others were making signs for the various stations. “I don't know how but within 15 minutes we were outside, had eight stations set up, had assigned two kids to run each station, and the rest were buddies that accompanied the DAPE students,” Nordby said.

Lots of teamwork went into pulling off this event. Shelley Wilmer, Speech Pathologist showed Nordby what activities were going to be at the original challenge and they modified. He asked physical education teacher Sue Frame if he could use her equipment for a mini DAPE challenge. She wasn't even sure where it was going to be because she had the mile run for her class that day. Nordby had his students set up the course in the middle of the mile run. Barb Nelson from the behavior room put 10 treat bags together for the DAPE students to have after the challenge. Mara Tyler, Special Education teacher pointed out, “I'm sure so much more went on that I don't even know about.” She added, “The paraprofessionals that work with my students were flexible, took pictures, were cheerleaders, and made sure that students who could be out there were at the mini DAPE challenge.”

The excitement of being with their peers turned everyone’s day around. She continued, “I think this activity made me happier than the kids!  I loved seeing Mark's 4th grade class take over and take my students to each activity, cheer them on, and make my students whole day so much brighter!” “My students were rock stars running the show and it's probably a memory I'll cherish forever,” Nordby concluded, “That sounds a bit sappy but it was pretty special to watch.”

Submitted by teacher Darla Beckmann, DAPE , SCRED/Chisago Lakes