Fort Belvoir, Va. (May 30, 2014) - Students are tumbling, cheering and dancing their way into summer, as the Schools of Knowledge, Inspiration, Exploration and Skills Unlimited (SKIES) summer schedule gets under way at Fort Belvoir.
Eight girls took part in a Cheernastics class, May 22, with Sarah Smith, veteran, at Specker Field House. Smith led them through tumbling exercises culminating in a back walkover. Cheernastics is just one of the many classes that SKIES offers afterschool for local students.
Cra'Shae Curry, SKIES director, said the extracurricular classes are offered throughout the year to Army Families.
"We try to offer them at a lower rate than they would get off post," she said.
Some classes, like taekwondo, karate and dance, are presented year-round, and students are able to progress and advance. Others, like Cheernastics, last six to 10 weeks.
"We see a lot of Families returning and looking out for the next one," Curry said.
Curry said they are looking for more students for their summer programs, as a number of them are starting up in the coming weeks.
SKIES has taken on several new instructors, such as Smith, whose Cheernastics class is her first on post.
"I think the support from the SKIES program is tremendous," Smith said. "I really like working in the military community."
Smith, an Air Force veteran, said the class is a great introduction to the sport of cheerleading.
"For the younger ones, I really want them to have fun and get an understanding. We don't just shake pom poms -- in fact we don't even use pom poms in this class," Smith said.
The students learn the basics of tumbling and jump moves they will need if they continue with cheerleading. When the students began the class on April 29, Smith said many had no experience.
"Some of them had no idea how to do forward rolls to begin with," she said.
In the weeks that followed, Smith taught them pike jumps, split jumps and more. Her goal is to keep the learning slow but steady.
"I really focus on perfection before projection," she said.
For students who do excel, Smith is planning a more advanced class later in the summer, but students are also welcome to take what they learn back to their community and join school teams.
"If they do want to pursue it more often, they can go out into their community or schools and try out for something," Curry said.
The instructors are carefully chosen using background checks and certification before they are allowed to teach the children.
"We try to tell people this is recreational -- although our instructors are highly qualified," Curry said.
Karate instructors must have a black belt and at least three years experience teaching children.
"They're certified to give belts to the children," Curry said. "We try to have our programs as close to the real thing as possible."
While Cheernastics is Smith's first class on post, she has been cheerleading since 1999.
Curry said SKIES has other programs in development, and they are trying to build their academic offerings. Currently being planned is a SAT prep course for teens. They are always on the lookout for new instructors to bring even more fun, educational after school programs to Fort Belvoir.
There are several tumbling classes starting up in June that are still accepting registrations. Prospective students can register via Child, Youth and School Services WebTrac.
For more information call Curry at (703) 805-9146.
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