Classroom Champions Update #3

As part of the Classroom Champions program, top performing athletes are connected with students in high-need schools. They use video lessons and live video chat to motivate students to recognize their potential, set goals and dream big, while educating them in the practical use of communications technology. 

Upon their return from the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, gold medalist ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White made sure to spend some time with students they've been mentoring since October!  Ms. McLeod and Mr. Nycz's students were invited to the Today Show, at Rockefeller Center, to reunite with the athletes that they know and love.

Check out the slideshow below for some highlights from this memorable experience!  A big thanks to Giddeon Massie, Olympian and Classroom Champions Advisor, for making this opportunity a smooth one.  We appreciate your dedication to the program.

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Classroom Champions Update #2

Meryl Davis and Charlie White are two highly-accomplished American ice dancers who have their eyes on the prize as they compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics.  As part of the Classroom Champions Program, athlete-mentors "adopt" class 502!   Focusing on their own personal journey, athletes teach young students about the hard work of training, goal setting, competition and perseverance.  "For my students to get to the point where they are able to read and be confident within themselves to present, including a good number of my students with special needs", says Mr. Nycz, "it's a huge accomplishment".

Since the Winter Olympics began on February 6th, students in Mr. Nycz and Ms. McLeod's class have researched the steps the Olympians had to take to get to where they are today.   One particular student, Joel H., took it upon himself to write an essay about Meryl and Charlie!  He discussed the reasons why they will bring home the gold!  Click the video below to hear the essay and see how students cheer on their mentors!

Classroom Champions: Class 502, Celebrating the Games by Celebrating Meryl and Charlie's Achievements! by Brent Nycz on Vimeo.

For more information about the Classroom Champions Program, click here.  Click here for more information on the Sochi 2014 Olympic games.

Classroom Champions Update #1

Classroom Champions is a program that brings Olympians and Paralympians (Athlete Mentors) into the classroom using videos and live chats. Each athlete mentor adopts 1-4 classrooms per year. Focusing on their own personal journey, athletes teach young students about the hard work of training, goal setting, competition and perseverance.  Class 502 has been part of the Classroom Champions since September!

Class 502 and parents with ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White at Rockefeller Center.

Recently, Mr. Nycz and Ms. McLeod's students were invited by the program to attend a live taping of the Today Show at Rockefeller Center to meet their athlete mentors, Meryl Davis and Charlie White!  They are two highly-accomplished American ice dancers who have their eyes on the prize as they prepare for the Winter Olympics next year.  Students arrived at PS4 at 6:30am to have breakfast and board a bus to 49th Street.

Congratulations again to Mr. Nycz, Ms. McLeod and their students for being classroom champions!  Keep us updated on all of your great experiences.  Click here to read a blog post written by Mr. Nycz about his experience on the trip!  Check out the video below to see how students from his class discuss their goals and how they plan to achieve them.


Classroom Champions Goal Setting Video for Class 502! from Brent Nycz on Vimeo.

Classroom Champions

Last June, Mr. Nycz was accepted to become a part of Classroom Champions! Classroom Champions is a program that brings Olympians and Paralympians (Athlete Mentors) into the classroom using videos and live chats. Each athlete mentor adopts 1-4 classrooms per year. Focusing on their own personal journey, athletes teach young students about the hard work of training, goal setting, competition and perseverance. Using video lessons and live video chats, students are engaged with their athlete mentor several times per month. Mr. Nycz was one of only 17 teachers selected from hundreds of applicants all over the United States for this school year!  Congratulations, Mr. Nycz!

Co-teachers Mr. Nycz and Ms. McLeod

Along with hia co-teacher Ms. McLeod, Mr. Nycz's 5th grade class will be paired up with an athlete mentor throughout the school year! Class 502's athlete mentors are Meryl Davis and Charlie White. Meryl and Charlie are two highly-accomplished American ice dancers who have their eyes on the prize as they prepare for the Winter Olympics next year. They won the silver medal in ice dancing at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic games. If you don't know what ice dancing looks like, click here to see a video of Meryl and Charlie performing at Rockefeller Center!

          

During the school year, blog editors will be featuring articles that update class 502 as they participate in this exciting program.  For more information about Classroom Champions, click here!