The spirit of the recent Summer Olympics came to Brecksville-Broadview Heights Middle School on Tuesday, September 10^th, and Wednesday, September 11^th, as students in all Physical Education classes had the unique opportunity to learn about the sport of fencing. Instructors from the Cleveland Fencing Academy introduced students to the popular sport through a series of fun tutorials and demonstrations in the gym. On Tuesday, students learned about basic forms and techniques, including the En garde, or starting position, how to perform offensive actions such as an advance and lunge, as well as parry, or block. At the end of each period, the top four students who demonstrated the best technique were selected to compete on Wednesday using electronic foils along with protective headgear and vests. 

The fencing tutorial was made possible through a generous “For the Love of Movement” grant in the amount of $4,000 ($2,000 per semester) from the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Schools Foundation. The Health & P.E. Department at the Middle School seeks to provide students with a variety of opportunities to discover ways that they love to move and be active. Over the next few months, Middle School Physical Education classes will feature activities such as Martial Arts, Taekwondo, Yoga, and the Krav Maga self defense system. BBHMS Health/Physical Education Teacher Dayna Daltorio credits the idea of providing these special activities to her parents, both retired teachers who taught Physical Education in the Youngstown area and incorporated similar activities in their own classes. In October, eighth grade students will take part in the first Physical Education field trip by visiting Mr. Divot’s in North Royalton to enjoy a round of mini golf, driving range, beach volleyball, and the batting cages. Thank you to the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Schools Foundation for their generous financial support and the entire BBHMS Health and Physical Education staff for organizing these engaging physical activities for our students!