{"id":7450,"date":"2018-03-08T12:04:44","date_gmt":"2018-03-08T17:04:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/?p=7450"},"modified":"2018-11-05T16:14:37","modified_gmt":"2018-11-05T21:14:37","slug":"seatack-students-learn-their-abcs-and-more-at-ifly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/seatack-students-learn-their-abcs-and-more-at-ifly\/","title":{"rendered":"Seatack students learn their &#8216;ABCs&#8217; and more at iFLY"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The focus of the afterschool lesson for a small group of fifth-graders from Seatack Elementary An Achieveable Dream Academy was the ABCs.<\/p>\n<p>Robert Pizzini wanted to make sure the students understood their importance.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7867.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7453\" src=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7867.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3456\" height=\"2304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7867.jpg 3456w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7867-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7867-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7867-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7867-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3456px) 100vw, 3456px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the age of 10, 11 and 12, this is really where you develop the skills that you\u2019re going to have for the rest of your life,\u201d he told them. \u201cIf you practice, agility, balance and coordination \u2013 A, B, C \u2013 now, it\u2019s going to be with you the rest of your life. That\u2019s how athletes develop. The more you practice these different skills, the better you become at any sport you participate in, including the sport of indoor skydiving.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Indoor skydiving?\u00a0Agility, balance, coordination?<\/p>\n<p>This is not your typical afterschool program nor your typical ABCs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re going to apply them in a wind tunnel,\u201d continued Pizzini. \u201cYou\u2019re on week five and you\u2019re starting to get really good. We\u2019ll see what Coach Zack says when he gets you ready for today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The 12 students, six boys and six girls, are in their fifth week of a 13-week indoor skydiving program at iFLY VA Beach. Pizzini, chief executive officer, contacted VBCPS Superintendent Aaron Spence in the fall to discuss the program and the company\u2019s desire to donate lessons to students.<\/p>\n<p>And after only five lessons, Pizzini\u2019s right \u2013 the students are starting to get really good.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 20px;\" align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\" https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ysx1oYHV9FA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Seatack fifth-graders who were interested in the opportunity were invited to write persuasive essays that were reviewed by a panel of judges, including Pizzini and other iFLY coaches.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was one of the most touching things,\u201d said Zack Jones, lead flight instructor at iFLY VA Beach. \u201cA lot of kids were very unsure. They thought they weren\u2019t going to be good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The fifth-graders have already proven themselves wrong.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy first time, I was scared and nervous because it was my first time flying,\u201d said Dany, \u201cbut now it\u2019s like, I can do anything!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve learned how to go up, down and sideways,&#8221; said Penelope. &#8220;It is very fun and entertaining because I really like flying.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt first, I didn\u2019t want to go in,&#8221; said Love. &#8220;I was so scared. I didn\u2019t see the net. I just thought we were going to drop and go BOOM! But it is fun to go up and go down and do the high fly. I was pretty scared for the high fly. It was like being on top of a building where you could look down.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Coach Zack surprised Love with another &#8220;high fly&#8221; in the most recent session, taking her by one arm and leg to circle higher together in the wind tunnel.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Seatack-high-fly.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7472 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Seatack-high-fly.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"356\" height=\"536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Seatack-high-fly.png 356w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Seatack-high-fly-199x300.png 199w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 356px) 100vw, 356px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Whether they are flying high or hovering at eye level, students are clearly having the time of their lives.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFlying has been a dream of mine,\u201d said Amare. \u201cSome people might think it\u2019s funny, but I just think it\u2019s a great dream.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Flying like an eagle has been the dream for Austin as well. \u201cMy dream came true once I learned to how to fly. Now that I know the basics, we can start having fun.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cbasics\u201d include the subtle body movements that allow flyers to go up, down, sideways, turn or stay neutral. With Pizzini, the students recalled the various instructions they have learned thus far.<\/p>\n<p><em>Pull your arms in and straighten your legs to go forward.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Push your arms out and bend your legs to go backward.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Make your body bigger to catch air and go up.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Make your body smaller to go down. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>Pizzini also coached them on how to make a 360-degree turn, comparing the move to the steering wheel of a car.<\/p>\n<p>This is not to mention the multiple hand gestures coaches use to communicate with students in the wind tunnel, which they review in a classroom before each flying session.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7911.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7454\" src=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7911.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3456\" height=\"2304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7911.jpg 3456w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7911-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7911-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7911-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7911-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3456px) 100vw, 3456px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>What seems overwhelming to an observer is already becoming second nature to the students.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s Pizzini\u2019s goal for them. \u201cWe want you to get to the point where you don\u2019t have to think about it,\u201d he said, comparing it to walking. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to think, &#8216;I put my left foot out and then I put my right foot out.&#8217; You just get up and walk, and that\u2019s what we want to do when you fly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He has more goals for his young flyers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe immediate goal is that they faced a challenge and overcame it, and that, consciously or subconsciously, they have that much more confidence in their life going forward. We also want them to be proud and to develop pride \u2013 confidence and pride.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pizzini hopes his staff will continue working with some of the current Seatack students as they advance to middle school and high school, and he plans to donate lessons to at least two school groups next year. \u201cSo, ideally they\u2019re standing on a high school graduation stage and they\u2019re thinking about how awesome this was,\u201d he said looking forward.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s no question the students are already thinking how awesome this experience is.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou get to fly like a superhero,\u201d said Sammy. \u201cYou can be like your own superhero. I would be called Super Sammy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7937.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7455\" src=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7937.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3456\" height=\"2304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7937.jpg 3456w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7937-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7937-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7937-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7937-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3456px) 100vw, 3456px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Flying is not the only lesson for students. Each weekly visit begins with an hour-long session in which the iFLY staff or guest speakers cover topics ranging from physics and parachutes to nutrition and teamwork. It&#8217;s also a time to enjoy dinner together, courtesy of iFLY.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCan anyone tell me what you think a team is?\u201d Pizzini asked students.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTeam means to me, basically, that people care about each other and are willing to help people along the way to get where each other needs to go,\u201d said Penelope. \u201cAnd they won\u2019t leave anyone else behind.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI love that you said teammates don\u2019t leave each other behind. That\u2019s perfect,\u201d encouraged Pizzini.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7994.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7456\" src=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7994.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3456\" height=\"2304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7994.jpg 3456w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7994-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7994-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7994-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_7994-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3456px) 100vw, 3456px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I think of a team, I think of people that are working together,\u201d shared Sammy. \u201cA team faces challenges together. So, if one person faces a challenge, you face that challenge with them and go through it together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pizzini agreed. \u201cTeammates are there for each other, regardless. We help each other out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The night\u2019s ABC lesson expanded to much more than agility, balance and coordination. Teamwork. Confidence. Pride. Overcoming challenges. Goal setting.<\/p>\n<p>No wonder Coach Zack enjoys Thursdays as much as the students do.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI write the schedule most weeks and I make sure to put myself on this,\u201d he said. It\u2019s something I look forward to every week. All the kids are so respectful and nice, and every week you can tell the kids want to be here. I love it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_8126.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7457\" src=\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_8126.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3456\" height=\"2304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_8126.jpg 3456w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_8126-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_8126-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_8126-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/IMG_8126-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3456px) 100vw, 3456px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He added, \u201cIt\u2019s a really cool opportunity for us to give back. It\u2019s great to work one-on-one with them and give them that little bit of encouragement. I want them to feel like they truly succeeded in something. I want them to have that confidence and to come out of this and say, \u2018You know what? I\u2019m really good at this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Some already do.<\/p>\n<p>When asked what he has learned so far, Amare responded, \u201cI\u2019m a natural.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>See more Seatack flyers in the videos below.<\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 20px;\" align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_GVzuckpeP8\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LbDGHjxPMGg\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The focus of the afterschool lesson for a small group of fifth-graders from Seatack Elementary An Achieveable Dream Academy was the ABCs. Robert Pizzini wanted to make sure the students [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":7456,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[85],"class_list":["post-7450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-connections","tag-seatack-elementary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7450","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7450"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7450\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7500,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7450\/revisions\/7500"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}