Photos & Video: Students Benefit From Archery

Autistic students at West Pembroke Primary, Paget Primary, Prospect Primary, and Dellwood Middle School are benefiting from an archery program that aims to improve a variety of aspects of quality life for the students.

In order to highlight the programme during Autism Awareness Month, West Pembroke Primary held an open house yesterday [April 30], with their class’ seven students participating in archery exercises.

A new service delivery model for the programme would see multi-exceptional, low-functioning ASD students attend Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy, high functioning ASD students attend their neighbourhood school within their zone, with appropriate supports, and selected ASD students participate in a transitional setting in one of three designated schools.

The programme now has sites at four locations, including West Pembroke Primary, Paget Primary, Prospect Primary, and Dellwood Middle School. Under this new service delivery model, each ASD student would be assessed to determine which option best suits his or her educational needs.

Some of the specialized skills that students will learn include development and support in communication, behaviour, sensory integration, socialization, and academics.

The students in the Autism Department at West Pembroke Primary School have been learning about and participating in archery under the instruction of Cynde Semos, owner and operator of Indigo Archery.

West Pembroke students show off their archery skills

“Archery is a great sport for boosting mental and physical health and fitness. However, it also has a number of other benefits, improving patience and teaching safety,” said Cynde Semos.

“While it is a fun sport, archery is also physically demanding and those wishing to progress may want to think about improving upper body strength for greater control. Archers require not only some physical strength, but also mental fitness, and archers develop their focus, flexibility, and attention skills.

“Archery is particularly useful for youngsters as it teaches them the benefits of patience. The sport can be extremely dangerous if people are reckless. Archery teaches everyone to be responsible for one another and also for the equipment they are using.”

The ASD Team consists of two teachers, including Freda Trimm and Zola French, as well as para-educator Oneka Trott.

Click to enlarge photos:

-

#Archery #Autism #GoodNews #SportsPhotos

Category: All, News, Photos, Sports, Sports