Dear Parents/Guardians:

We would like to inform you of some important changes involving the use of our rock (traversing) wall in our Physical Education (P.E.) program.  The District’s insurance carrier is requiring that all students and their respective parents/guardians sign a release form prior to students’ participation on the rock wall.  This form will  be sent home with students through their P.E. teacher.

The P.E. team would first like to familiarize you with the goals and activities associated with our traverse wall.  First and foremost, a traverse wall is one where the students will “climb” sideways down a hallway.  The goals of our traverse wall are to improve lifetime fitness, to improve cooperative skills, to improve emotional skills, and to practice skills for individual achievement.

Students practice respect, responsibility, trustworthiness and safe spotting techniques through off wall activities such as “Stand Up,” “Human Spring,” and paired “Trust Falls.”  Students are then taught basic traversing techniques to help ensure both safety and success for all.  Climbers are responsible for climbing safely while spotters are expected to provide physical and emotional support to the climber.

It is important to note that neither the wall nor the activities differ from how they have been used over the wall’s five-year existence.  Thus, for those of you who have had older children participate in previous years, the experience is precisely the same.  It is also important to note that the teachers inspect the wall for safety prior to each usage, and that the wall is inspected for safety by ­­­­­The Adventure Network, Inc. on an annual basis.

  It is our goal that all students will be able to participate in the rock wall activities this year, as has been the case in previous years.  Please call or email Ms. Vasta (610-869-3022; cvasta@avongrove.org) should you have any questions or would like to schedule a short orientation to our rock wall.

Students will have three school days to return this form once it is handed out by their P.E. teacher. Failure to do so will result in an administrative detention.

Sincerely,

The P.E. Team