Latch-Key Program

The Parent Teacher Association at Roosevelt Elementary School in Fargo, ND hired Chris Curran to teach JOY THRU MOVEMENT as a latch-key project for children dropped off at school early mornings. As an alternative to playing out of doors or sitting in the hallways, the children are offered movement with T’ai Chi Chih on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. This program is PTA sponsored and is free of charge. The program was given a one-month trial period. The results have been incredible with child turnout and participation–each morning between 20 and 50 children come into the gym to do these slow, relaxing movements.

Mrs. Stigman, principal of Roosevelt Elementary School that has 334 students (K-6), has been thrilled with the results. When one of the local television stations came in to cover the story for the evening news, Mrs. Stigman reported that this program ‘has passed all our expectations’. The joy of this coverage was that my teacher, Jean Katus, happened to be in Fargo the morning of this news coverage as she was en route home from the Bemidji teachers’ training course.

The movements were taught consistently by Chris Curran during this session; however, help was offered by other instructors Jean Katus and Patrick Curran when they were available. There also were three younger assistants who have taken the ‘chi for children’ course. They were Kathryn Curran, 6 years old, Kali Koshnick, 11 years old and Eden Evans, 11 years old.

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Chris Curran’s calendar of events and services is full and varied. In January, for instance there was the FITNESS FAIR; a presentation at Gate City District Nurses Meeting; T’ai Chi Chih/Meditation Retreat at Valhalla Resort; Fargo Adult Education classes; T’ai Chi Chih Teachers’ Training in Bemidji; Reaching for Wellness: A Weekend for Women (3rd year in a row). In February, T’ai Chi Chih through Communiversity at a nursing home; a T’ai Chi Chih presentation for North Dakota State Council for Exceptional Children; Let’s Talk: Process Group for Women; Stress Management Workshop for St. Luke’s Hospitals. March has Stress Management: Trendy Phrase or Practical Approach to Self-Management; Seijaku teacher training; Stress Management at Fargo Adult Education. So far for April there will be Joy Thru Movement for the Parenting Program, Moorhead, MN; Dance for Heart (2nd year in a row); Joy Thru Movement presentation at Youth Health Day, North Dakota State University; Self-Enhancement Sessions at NDSU Newman Center.