We're excited to share that a local software company (HYPACK, a Xylem brand) recently made a generous donation of six Strider brand balance bikes and helmets to Farm Hill Elementary School. This donation will help to expand the district's bicycling education unit, which is currently taught to all fourth and fifth grade students across our eight elementary schools.
"We are incredibly grateful to HYPACK for their generous donation," said Ms. Shamika Jackson, Farm Hill's PE/Health Education teacher. "These balance bikes will allow us to introduce our youngest students to the joys of bicycling and help them develop the essential bicycling skills of balance and coordination."
The donation from HYPACK aligns with MPS's commitment to providing its students with a well-rounded education that includes physical activity and outdoor learning. The bicycling education unit teaches students the fundamentals of safe and responsible bicycling, including rules of the road, helmet safety, and bike maintenance.
"We are excited to expand our bicycling education program to include our younger students," said Ms. Jen Calabrese, Farm Hill's principal. "These balance bikes will be a valuable resource for our PE/Health Education teachers and will help us to promote healthy lifestyles among our students."
HYPACK, a Xylem brand, is a local software company that creates positioning software for ships and dredges to aid navigation and map the seafloor. They are committed to supporting the communities in which it operates. HYPACK’s donation to Farm Hill is a testament to its commitment to education and youth development.
Farm Hill Elementary School and Middletown Public Schools are grateful for HYPACK's donation and are committed to using the balance bikes to promote physical activity, outdoor learning, and safe bicycling practices among its students.
If you or someone you know is interested in donating to Farm Hill Elementary School with the goal of helping to further expand their balance bike program, please visit THIS SITE.
Photos from the November 30, 2023 event when the bikes were revealed to the students can be viewed below:
