DIDSBURY - Westglen School Grade 8 students taking part in a new bicycle mechanic class say the experience has been worthwhile so far, teaching them lots of transferable skills.
The option class is being offered for the first time at the Didsbury middle school funded with a $5,000 Flourishing Stories and Innovation Grant from Chinook’s Edge trustees.
The grant has been used to purchase 10 mobile bike stands, 10 mobile tool carts and tools to fill them.
Student Landen Fazakas said the class has been fun and a great learning experience.
“I like it a lot and I’m learning a lot too,” Fazakas said, noting he is a bike rider himself. “I’m learning how to fix almost anything on a bike; bearings, brakes, tires and other stuff.”
He says he hopes to be able to transfer skills learned in the class to other things such as maybe fixing farm equipment.
Fellow student Kinsey Knowlton said she is already using her bike mechanic skills.
“I’m going to be able to fix my own bike, which has only one gear right now and it doesn’t work,” Knowlton said. “And I might be fixing my sister’s bike. Her bike seat keeps sliding down when she rides it, so I might be able to help fix that.”
Fellow student Madi Jardine said she signed up for the option class because she wanted to learn some new skills.
“There were times when I wanted to give up, but I’ve learned about perseverance,” Jardine said. “This class is teaching us to work with other people.”
The class itself is the brainchild of teacher Dustin Moreau.
“Students this age (Grade 8) aren’t driving motorized vehicles yet, but many are riding bikes, so it seemed bike mechanics might be a natural fit,” Moreau said, noting bike mechanics involves lots of things to keep the students busy.
The class itself focuses on bike repairs, including when it comes to gears, wheels, brakes and chairs.
“This class provides students with the ability to do their own tune ups and, hopefully, that result in more enjoyable riding for them,” he said.
“Also some of the students didn’t realize how much work goes into bike repair, and I think this has increased their appreciation of people who do this work. It also exposes students to possible career options.”
Westglen School principal Carolyn Massel calls the program a great addition to the school, and something that should be sustainable for years to come.
“There’s no reason we wouldn’t make this an ongoing project,” she said.
