CLPE's Super Stars program celebrates 25 years

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

The Super Stars program at Cache La Poudre Elementary in LaPorte is one of the highlights of the school year, when all fifth and sixth graders enter into a friendly but intense fitness competition.

This year's contest, held over a month-long period in January and February, marked the 25th year of the program and culminated in the usual grand ceremony with lots of medals and awards. Avalanche player John Michael Lyles was on hand this year to congratulate the winners, as well as former super stars from CLPE.

While most of the attention goes to student athletes, the real super star behind the program is Bob Verti, now in his 32nd year of teaching physical education at CLPE. He kicked off the first Super Stars event in 1980 after getting the idea from a popular television show with the same name.

Over the years, Verti has sometimes thought of giving Super Stars a rest, but the students won't let him do it. Not only do they look forward to the contest from the first day of school in the fall, but they don't forget about Super Stars even when they leave elementary school. Verti maintains a record chart for all of the Super Stars events, and years later when students come back to the school, they check to see if their records still stand.

For the Super Stars competition, students participate in nine strength and fitness events during their regular physical education classes. Events include a basketball shoot, shuttle run, jump rope, shot put, paddleball, standing long jump, sit-ups, an agility drill and an obstacle course. Points are awarded for each event.

Verti gives out gold, silver and bronze medals each year for the top three boys and girls in terms of total points earned. Others win awards for setting school records, for being among the top five boys or girls in one's grade and for winning individual events. "We try to acknowledge as many as we can," Verti said.

The emphasis of Super Stars, Verti said, is not so much competition as encouraging students to challenge themselves and do the best they can. To that end, awards are also given to the students showing most improvement. However, competition is definitely part of the fun. Classrooms with the most total points are given a new basketball or soccer ball, and teachers get into the game as much as the youngsters.

This year, Verti asked fourth and fifth graders to write down their goals for next year's Super Stars events and how they plan to reach them. In the process, the students got some extra practice in writing a clear, well-organized paragraph. To get younger children fired up for Super Stars, Verti lets fourth graders do a practice run on the Super Stars events. He also recruits second graders to help with the awards assembly.

Sixth-grade teacher Payton Schneider said the Super Stars competition helps her create a team atmosphere in the classroom. "The kids get excited from the first of the year," she said, and she uses this enthusiasm to build character and to teach students to encourage each other. "We try to teach kids how to compete in a friendly, helpful manner," Verti added.

By the time Super Stars arrives, Schneider said, the students cheer each other on and brag about their teammates' successes more than their own. She urges them on, telling them at the opening bell, "This is the year we're winning it all."