By the Southern Nebraska Register
St. Teresa School in Lincoln recently surprised its kindergarten class with a unique – and much appreciated – gift: 24 Strider bikes.
The Strider brand bikes are pedal-free, meant to teach young users how to balance on a two-wheel bike until they are ready to add the pedals.
Kindergarteners gathered in the gymnasium bleachers Oct. 27, not knowing what was in store. The bikes were unveiled as fifth-graders wheeled the bikes into the gym in a long, straight line, and the kindergarteners stared in wonder.
“Catching all 23 of our kindergarteners silent at the same time is a rare event,” said Sister Mary Michael, C.K., principal, “and I did not anticipate this would be one of them.”
The kindergarteners were then invited to find their fifth-grade “buddy” and their bike.
Sister Mary Michael said the school started working toward the “All Kids Ride” program approximately six months earlier. The program comes with 24 Striders, pedal kits for the bikes, a teacher Strider, helmets for all, a storage rack and programming so the teacher can help the students learn to ride.
“Who doesn’t want children to ride bikes?” she asked. “And what child doesn’t want to learn to ride a bike?”
The school registered on the site and planned to wait for the “Catholic Giving Day” to work toward funding, until she received a surprise of her own – a donor offered to fully fund the bikes, anonymously.
The boxes were delivered in flat boxes on a freight truck. Sister Mary Michael, Mrs. Vacek and 15 student volunteers assembled the bikes together after school one day.
Sister Mary Michael reflected on asking the fifth-graders – the kindergarten’s “buddy” class – to help. She said they were equally excited.
When the kindergarteners found their fifth-grade buddies Oct. 27, each buddy helped fit the helmet to his or her kindergartener, as well as the height of the bike seat. They helped stabilize the bikes so the little ones could learn to adjust the kick stand without tipping over. The representative from All Kids Ride said a reveal usually takes about an hour – but with all the helpers, Sister Mary Michael said, “the fitting session went seamlessly, and they were riding a half an hour in.”
“What a delightful day,” she said. “We surprised the students and they surprised me. We all won. Thank you Lord, for the joy of riding a bike, for the goodness of working together, and for the donor who provided for us!”
