В школе Мансфилда четвероклассники осваивают езду и ремонт велосипедов в рамках уникальной программы

Mansfield elementary school teaches fourth graders to ride and repair bikes in one-of-a-kind P.E. program MANSFIELD, Conn. (WFSB) - Every fourth grader at Mansfield Elementary School is learning to ride and maintain a bicycle as part of a physical education program that is now in its fourth year — and one of few of its kind in Connecticut. The program, run by P.E. teacher Josh Tamosaitis, begins each ride with a safety check and ends the week with a neighborhood ride. In between, students learn bike maintenance and repair — including taking apart a bicycle and putting it back together. “It’s a life experience,” Tamosaitis said. “Bike riding is something we do throughout our lifetime.” Students learn to ride from scratch Principal Kate Hosey McCoy said the program has revealed just how many students arrive without basic bike skills. “You’d be surprised how many fourth graders didn’t know how to ride a bike,” she said. Tamosaitis said the growth students experience during the week is tangible. “There are kids that come in who don’t know how to ride and by the end of the week they are riding,” he said. “It’s tangible growth. They can feel it.” Fifth grader Morgan Bowman said the experience is hard to put into words. “Riding a bike is like being free,” Bowman said. “It’s super fun.” Fellow fifth grader Niko Liapes said he learned to navigate the course carefully. “When I’m going through the cones and the zig zag thing, I press the brake a little bit so I don’t go too fast,” Liapes said. Police involvement Mansfield Resident Trooper Sgt. Stephen King also participates in the program, using it as an opportunity to build positive relationships with students. “I want a kid’s first interaction with police to be as positive as possible,” King said. “To see us as a person, someone there to help.” Community support The program uses 28 bicycles — all donated — after Bike Mansfield helped raise $22,000. The district also contributed funds to purchase a trailer for the bikes. “And then the district chipped in to buy this trailer!” said Lon Hultgren of Bike Mansfield. Hundreds of students have completed the program since it launched. Copyright 2026 WFSB. All rights reserved.