Students from Northwest R-1’s House Springs Elementary School had an exciting send-off on their final day of the 2020-2021 school year.
The students took part May 25 in a competition against local first responders in a ninja warrior-style obstacle course.
House Springs Elementary Principal Angie Ritzel said she believes the first responders were shocked by her students’ speed.
“I think at first (the first responders) were trying to give a little bit of leeway until they realized how fast our kids were and how the obstacle course was (more challenging) for taller and bigger people because they had to go over and under things through hula hoops and kids can zip right through those events,” she said. “The adults sometimes got stuck. So, it was actually very entertaining.”
Ritzel said personnel from the High Ridge Fire Protection District, the Byrnes Mill Police Department, and the Big River and North Jefferson County ambulance districts competed in the event. Jefferson County 911 dispatchers also attended but did not run the course.
“I think everybody who was involved really enjoyed themselves,” High Ridge Fire Chief Ken Theiling said.
He said he was surprised by the students’ speed and skill.
“We were very impressed,” he said.
The ninja warrior event has been a tradition on the last day of school for three years now, but Ritzel said this year was the first time first responders were involved.
“We haven’t had as much opportunity to bring in our community and be able to have that bond,” she said. “We thought this was a great opportunity with it being outdoors to have our first responders come in to show our support for all of them for protecting us and keeping us safe.”
Ritzel said a boy and girl from each grade level were chosen to compete against each other and then the winner raced a first responder.
She said fifth-grade student Jeremiah Brown had the fastest course time with 32:34 seconds.
Big River Ambulance paramedic Aaron Brandon had the fastest first responder time with 35.8 seconds.
Teachers selected the students based on several characteristics, like “resilience, being responsible, being good sports, and also being someone who never gives up, even if they’re not the most athletic in the class,” she said.
Two weeks before the event, student competitors were named during the school’s morning announcements, Ritzel said.
“Our grade levels and classes then made little banners and signs that cheered on the students who were in that grade level,” she said.
Ritzel said students and first responders both won a couple of races.
“I would say some of (the first responders) allowed our kids to dominate, but some of our kids just dominated on their own,” she said. “But I will say some of our first responders had to work extremely hard to even make it look like it was a race at first.”
The course included cones competitors had to run around, hula hoops they had to go though and a ball toss. The course also had obstacles people had to go under and over, Ritzel said.
She said students had been learning about competitions prior to the event.
“Our students have been learning about what it is to be a competitor and what it is to be a good supporter and to have resilience in running a race and good sportsmanship and things like that,” she said.
Ritzel said she plans to make the competition a yearly event.
“We had so many kids say, ‘It was the best day ever,’ and many of our staff said it was the best last day of school,” she said. “So, we really enjoyed the event.”
Ritzel said all the first responders gathered before the event outside the school and had a little parade into the parking lot with lights flashing.
Byrnes Mill Police Chief Frank Selvaggio said he greatly enjoyed the entrance.
“The kids were all screaming, all happy. It was just neat to see that,” he said.
Side bet
The event ended with a final race between two High Ridge firefighters and two Byrnes Mill Police officers, and Selvaggio and Theiling had a bet on the race.
If High Ridge Fire won, Selvaggio would have to put on a red T-shirt with the phrase, “I am the police chief and firefighters are my heroes” on the back. If Byrnes Mill Police officers won, Theiling would have had to don a blue T-shirt with, “I am the fire chief and police officers are my heroes” on the back.
The High Ridge firefighter won.
“I didn’t feel like wearing the blue shirt for the day, and so we prevailed,” Theiling joked.
Selvaggio said the bet was all in good fun, and he didn’t mind wearing the shirt.
“I think it increases the brotherhood we have between the police and the firefighters,” he said. “If you can build that brotherhood up a little bit, everybody’s going to work together better in emergency situations.”
Selvaggio said he plans on taking part in the event next year and making the same bet with Theiling.
“We are already training for next year,” he said. “The firefighters better be ready.”