TriColumbia Leads The Way In Triathlon Instruction Partnership With Wilde Lake Middle School

The first program of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic, triathlon courses offered to selected elementary, middle and high school P.E. programs in Howard County, Md. 

TriColumbia, the Mid-Atlantic’s premier endurance event production company, today announced a partnership with the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) to implement elementary, middle and high school triathlon instruction during physical education courses in an effort to educate students on the experience and lifestyle benefits of triathlon. The partnership was formalized with an official signing on September 28 at Wilde Lake Middle School in Columbia, Md.

The first program of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic, TriColumbia will collaborate with physical education instructors to pilot a triathlon (swim, bike, run) program for fourth grade students at Hammond and Talbott Springs elementary schools, sixth grade students at Burleigh Manor and Wilde Lake middle schools, and ninth grade students at Glenelg and Long Reach high schools. HCPSS will provide instructional assistance in swimming, cycling and running, as well as necessary equipment and transportation.

“The HCPSS partnership with TriColumbia provides a new opportunity for our students to be active in a fun and exciting way,” said Mary Schiller of the HCPSS Partnerships Office. “Students will learn that the sport of triathlon welcomes athletes of all abilities; that it is as much about embracing a healthy lifestyle and having a can-do attitude as it is about the finish line.”

“Our goal is for students to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to carry on when they leave Howard County Public Schools,” said Jackie French, Instructional Facilitator of Physical Education for HCPS. “This unique program further contributes to that goal by providing a foundation for youth to build an active lifestyle that will last a lifetime.”

Each program will be designed appropriately for the students’ ages and fitness levels, and modifications will be made as needed to ensure that all students, including those with disabilities, are able to participate successfully. TriColumbia will also sponsor 25 scholarships for age-appropriate triathlons, to be awarded by P.E. instructors to students at each participating school.

“Having the opportunity to work with the Howard County Public School System to educate students on the benefits of healthy lifestyles through triathlon is a tremendous honor for TriColumbia,” said Robert Vigorito, President and founder of TriColumbia. “It has always been a dream of mine to give back to the community and to educate our youth and I would like to thank HCPSS as well as our sponsors for making this possible.”

Sponsors of the pilot program include Howard County General Hospital, The Horizon Foundation and McDonalds Family Restaurants of Greater Baltimore. (Source: TriColumbia http://www.tricolumbia.org/)

Thanks to TriColumbia and your corporate sponsors! 

We are excited to be working with you!

HCPSS Staff Meet Ms. Bae Sook Cho, South Korean National Assembly Member

On Monday, the HCPSS delegation to South Korea had the honor of meeting the National Assembly Member that represents the City of Iksan in the national parliament - Ms. Cho. She invited our entire delegation to the National Assembly building where we were given a special tour and then we were given the wonderful opportunity to eat lunch with Ms. Cho in the National Assembly building.

Ms. Cho is the person credited with having the vision to forge a partnership between the Howard County Public Schools and the Iksan City Public Schools. Five years ago, during one of Ms. Cho's visits to the U.S., she came to Howard County and began the process of developing a partnership between our two school systems. Her goals were to help rural Korean students and teachers have an opportunity to learn how American teachers teach English and provide opportunities for a cultural exchange between the two countries. Since her visit in 2005, Ms. Cho has helped to fund the cost of visits by both system's superintendents, central office staff and now for the past 2 years selected principal and teachers.

Ms. Cho was an absolute joy to meet. She was so kind to spend over 90 minutes talking to us about a wide-range of subjects including education, reunification of Korea, food and her vision of how the partnership can expand in the future. She is clearly passionate about her work and her commitment to the people of Iksan is admirable. We found out during our visit yesterday that she may soon become the leader of the South Korean Democratic Party. Good luck Ms. Cho!

In the picture above, I am giving Ms. Cho a collage that we created of pictures of each of the groups of teachers we worked with during this summer's professional development and cultural exchange program.

Here are some pics from the National Assembly visit:

Mr. Martin gives Ms. Cho a taste of Maryland - Old Bay seasoning!

Iksan City/Howard County Professional Development/Cultural Exchange 2010

Iksan /Howard County Public Schools

Exchange Program

Summer 2010

My Homestay Mom!

My Homestay Dad!

My Homestay Kids!

Korean students I had the pleasure

to teach last week!

I am very happy to share some pics from our first of two weeks in Iksan, South Korea. I am here along with six colleagues from the Howard County Public School System visiting our partner school district in central South Korea. With me are: Sean Martin -Bryant Woods Elementary School Principal, Penny Zimring, GT Program Facilitator, Laura Hook, ESOL Facilitator, and ELL teachers Misty Thompson, Laurel Conran and Linda Potsiadlo.

I hope to post more pics soon. This is the first time I have had the ability to upload pictures via the internet. I also plan to share more information about what I have learned.

For now...모두 안녕히,건강하게 지내십시오.감사합니다. (Goodbye and have great health!)