Bike Rodeo Held At Sacred Heart

The Bike Rodeo was held at Sacred Heart Elementary School For Sacred Heart and Lincoln Elementary third-graders on Friday.
A tradition that started back in the early 1990s at Atwood Elementary School by the Warsaw Noon Optimist Club is blossoming, according to a news release provided. The rodeo moved to Jefferson Elementary School in 2006 and was held annually. In May 2022, a rodeo was held at Warsaw Community Church with Jefferson, Claypool and Eisenhower elementaries participating. That tradition continued this past May. In October 2022, Sacred Heart and Lincoln elementaries were added. The ultimate goal for these service clubs and the school corporation is to hold a rodeo for every third-grade class in Kosciusko County.
On Friday, with the combined efforts of Tracey’s Trailer, KCV (Kosciusko County Vello) and the Warsaw Noon Optimist Club, 94 kids from Sacred Heart and Lincoln elementaries got to try out their skills and practice what they have been working on for the past four weeks.
Tracey’s Trailer provided bicycles for the event. There were dozens of bikes ranging from beginner’s strider bikes up to more advanced rider bikes. Bicycles were available in different sizes for the kids to choose from. The bikes are maintained and serviced by TrailHouse Village Bicycles located in Winona Lake.
KCV has provided classroom instruction the last four weeks leading up to today. Topics covered were bike safety instruction, biking etiquette and proper road rules for road biking. They also spent time measuring each child to be sized for a new properly fitting bike helmet. A bike safety picture was also provided to each student at this time to be colored and submitted for the coloring contest.
The Warsaw Noon Optimist Club provided the end of the rodeo treats for everyone and certificates for each of the participants. They also awarded first-, second- and third-place prizes for the coloring contest for each classroom. Third place received a bike lock, second place received bike lights and first place received a bike computer. New bike helmets were provided to each student by the Noon Optimist Club.
It took many volunteers to make today happen. The news release thanks Warsaw Community School Corporation as well as the Warsaw and Winona Lake Police Departments.