St. John Vianney school students stretch their physical limits with new gymnastics program

"St. John Vianney is an amazing school and community, and our students deserve and will enjoy this new equipment in our phys-ed classes for many, many years to come," said Principal Vincent Moretti, shortly before Cossar did a mini-training session with the kids.

Designed by gym teacher Patrick De Vuono, St. John Vianney’s new Gym-tastic program is one that aims to encourage students of every age to engage in physical activity in a fun and entertaining way.

"The program is a combination of things," said De Vuono, an 11-year veteran teacher who has helmed the phys-ed program at the school for the last four years. "It’s based in gymnastics, so we’ve got the tumbling mats, balance beams, and tumbling wedges, but we’ve also incorporated a climbing wall, which focuses on balance, flexibility and stability."

The whole premise for the Gym-tastic program, De Vuono added, was inspired by his four-year-old daughter’s love of gymnastics.

"About two years ago, I got the inspiration for this program through my daughter Isabella when she started a program in our community called Kinder Gym," he explained.

"I thought it was a fabulous program. She loved it, the other kids in the class loved it, and quite frankly, the progress she made through the program was incredible."

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• Dec 31, 1969
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Armed with a desire to launch a similar program for his students at St. John Vianney, De Vuono began pricing out the necessary equipment to make that dream a reality – estimating its start-up costs at about $10,000.

With that cost in mind, De Vuono immediately began the long process of applying for grants – an arduous task that paid dividends when, in December, he got an email from GoodLife Kids Foundation announcing that his grant request had been accepted.

To date, the GoodLife Kids Foundation has granted more than $1 million to more than 60 organizations across the country, the funds for which are generated by the Foundation’s annual Spin4Kids fundraiser – an eight-hour spin-a-thon that takes place at more than 80 GoodLife Fitness clubs across the country.

Anne-Marie Calhoun and Christine MacIntosh of the King’s Mill GoodLife club in Etobicoke co-ordinated this year’s Spin4Kids locally – a highly successful event that was recognized for being one of the top fundraisers in Canada.

In reward for their success, Calhoun said the club was issued a grant towards an organization in the Etobicoke community to help promote opportunities for kids to be physically active – and St. John Vianney was chosen as its recipient.

"We’re overjoyed to be able to contribute to this fantastic Gym-tastic program, and we just want you all to have fun," she told students at Monday’s launch event.

That was advice students Weronika Fydrych, 13, and Sandra Gorgeas, 14, planned to act on – just as soon as possible.

"We really, really want to try it," said Weronika, appraising the new 20-by-eight foot climbing wall.

"I think it’s a really good thing for the kids to get active, and this is just another opportunity for us to do that," added Sandra.

On hand to help the girls and their classmates get started on their "journey into the world of gymnastics" Monday was Cossar, who was part of the Canadian rhythmic gymnastics team that finished in 11th place at the 2012 London Games, and that won two silver medals and a bronze at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara.

Following the Monday’s speeches, Cossar taught a select group of students the proper technique for a front tumble, then showcased some of her own gravity-defying flips and spins to ‘oohs and aahs’ from the crowd.

"I’m just really, really excited and happy that this school got the grant from GoodLife Kids, because it gives them the extra opportunity to stay active – the extra motivation, the extra inspiration, the extra boost," she told The Guardian following her demonstration.

"Every school has its gym classes, but now this school has an extra special program that most schools don’t have anymore. As an athlete, it’s really inspiring to see that GoodLife is funding kids to be able to stay more active and to inspire kids to live active, healthy lifestyles."