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Kelly
Darling, Health & Fitness Director
Kelly
Darling is always looking for programs to enhance hand-eye coordination,
agility, speed and coordination for the senior citizens she works
with in Phoenix.
When
she heard about Speed Stacks, she knew it was something she wanted
to try, and with two sets of Speed Stacks, s he tested it out. “I
first tried it in our Assisted Living Residence, and I was hooked!” she
said. |
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“The
residents loved it, it was challenging, and I saw how sport stacking
could be intertwined with our regular fitness classes.”
They
now have 30 sets, and the Terrace of Phoenix was ready to help
set a Guinness World Record. Darling estimated 45 of the residents
took part. Average age: 87 |
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Angie
Atkinson, Life Management Teacher
Angie works
with 14 stackers with special needs. When she introduced sport stacking
last year, she had the state competition in mind as a goal for her
Special Education students. At first, she said there was a lot of resistance
because they couldn’t remember the patterns, it was too hard,
they didn’t want to compete and didn’t want to be embarrassed
in front of a lot of people. With patience and perseverance over a
few weeks’ time, these students eventually gained more confidence
and all boarded the bus for the Washington sport stacking tournament.
According
to Atkinson, it was a very good trip. Every student found success at
the tournament and was a champion in at least one event with many medals
and trophies to show for their efforts. “Stacking has truly changed
them,” she said. “They work together as a team, look out
for one another, and their grades are the best they have ever been--no
stacking time on Friday if all their school work isn’t complete.” Atkinson
credits sport stacking with her students’ newfound confidence
and ability to initiate conversations with others. On November 6th,
each will formally invite a teacher, administrator or staff member
to stack with them. “The growth of these students is truly phenomenal.” Their
next goal: Raise enough money to represent Hazen High School at the
World Championships and be the first group of special stackers ever
to compete as a team. You go Hazen! |
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