Implemented 20 years ago, Fit-for-Life students at AHS have had the chance to rock climb in physical education. Through the hard work by our CTE program coordinator Debbie Young, not only did our students earn credit for completing the course, they also enjoyed the process of it. At the time, she worked with PE teachers to come up with a beneficial and fun activity. AHS is one of very few schools to implement a rock climbing unit.

Students were seen to be enjoying the process, as everyone took fair turns. Some were assisting peers by tying them to the rock climbing safety chains. As 2-3 students climbed up in each round, students awaiting were cheering and supporting the rock climbers. On another side, a few boys gathered to play basketball while waiting. When a few basketball-lovers reached the top, they were challenged to go back to the middle of the wall to shoot dodgeballs into a basketball hoop. The class went wild when one student, Gary Yang, was able to make a perfect shot into the hoop. 

Started by Ms. Young, this lesson is carried out with the help of teachers and cooperation of the students. Ms. Blotzer, being one of the Fit-for-Life teachers, says that she would like her students to learn the most important personal development skill, which is collaboration. As it takes around 10 people to work together to get one climber up the wall, she believes that “without students filling those supporting roles, [they] would not be successful.” She also mentions the possibility of having this program because the students are willing to cooperate, in which she states, “we create a very supportive environment in which we celebrate each other…students feel safe being vulnerable and enjoy taking on challenges.” Being a kind and supportive teacher of her students, her biggest wish, as well as the most rewarding part of her job is seeing her students succeed. 

Having high academic standards for a school like AHS, physical education teachers also have to ensure that students are putting their utmost effort. Like other sports, rock climbing is a unique and underrated physical activity that requires quite a lot of muscular strength, endurance, and bilateral coordination. It is definitely a sport where students strengthen personal development skills such as teamwork, communication, and responsibility. Students learn to encourage their peers, and Ms. Blotzer says, “Our climbing wall works on many physical education standards and several of our AHS WASC goals.”

As the two-decade lesson did not fail to impress our students, the south gym was full of laughter. Through the smiles and laughter that filled the south gym, it was clear that our students were grateful for what they were provided with. They learned to communicate efficiently, develop patience, and also a strong sense of responsibility. 

Video by VICTORIA CHENG