They tumbled, rolled, and flipped last Saturday, March 21, as the kids of the Weehawken recreation gymnastic program took the floor for their end-of-season awards ceremony at Daniel Webster School.
With about 60 kids from the ages of 3 to 13 registered this year, the co-ed gymnastic program continues to be a growing success for the community. Last Saturday, the older student groups came together to demonstrate all the skills they learned during the program this season.
“We had a combined program for that day,” said Suzanne Dorsey, co-instructor for the gymnastic program.
At 11 a.m., two groups took to the floor to perform stunts from back handsprings and back flips to cartwheels and round-offs on the balance beam.
“The show was a focus of all the skills they learned,” said Dorsey.
The program runs from November to March, with an annual demonstration show at the end. All the kids that participate in the program receive trophies, which were presented by Mayor Richard Turner and Councilwoman Carmel Silvestri-Ehret.
Gymnasts in the making
Weehawken’s recreation gymnastics program, which has been running for about 12 years, offers free training to boys and girls – ages 6 to 8 and 9 to 13 – at Daniel Webster School under the supervision of co-instructors Suzanne Dorsey and Pamela Simone, who has been an instructor for the program for 10 years. Simone was also formerly a competitive gymnast.
The first age group meets every Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m., and the older group from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
“It’s a co-ed program and we have a turn out range from 20 to 30 people at Webster School,” said Dorsey. “[These groups] are a little more advanced. They start out with basic stretching and tumbling, and by the last week [of the program], some are doing back flips and other floor exercises.”
In addition, there is a gymnastic toddlers program, which is housed separately at Theodore Roosevelt School.
Kids can start learning the basics of tumbling and balance.
“The program at Roosevelt School is aimed for toddler ages 3 to 5,” said Dorsey. “The parents come with them and they have tumbling mats and ropes set up on the gym.”
“The recital was this past Saturday, but the toddlers have two more weeks,” she added.
“It teaches the children teamwork and there is a lot of cooperation, which is really nice to see.” – Suzanne Dorsey
________
“It teaches the children teamwork and there is a lot of cooperation, which is really nice to see,” said Dorsey. “They encourage each other and help each other, and [the program] has really evolved. The skills they learn are very advanced.”
This is Dorsey’s first year with the gymnastics program, and some of her students from school have joined the program.
“I teach third grade, and it’s really nice to see them in a different setting and participating in extra-curricular activities and really excelling,” said Dorsey.
According to Dorsey, since the kids don’t have the pressure of competition, they can really work at their own pace, and don’t have many hesitations when trying new routines.
“The kids are eager, excited, and really not nervous at all,” said Dorsey.
Some of the students that have come through the program before go on to more advanced training, and toward the end of the season, the students are able to get more individualized training based on their skill level.
“The gymnastic program is such a success due to a number of factors,” said Dorsey. “The parents are really involved, Paula and I work really well together, and all the equipment and support we get from the mayor and the town.”