William Thomas Middle School is proud to announce the graduation of its first cohort of students from the Riding for Focus program, a national in-school cycling program designed to introduce students to the physical, emotional, and social benefits of cycling. Fifteen seventh and eighth-grade students participated in the 14-lesson program, which equips students with essential bike-handling and safety skills, ultimately preparing them to be confident and safe riders on the road. The students' achievement reflects the program's goal of promoting lifelong fitness and resilience while encouraging a love for riding bikes.
Hailey Lusk, the Champion instructor for Riding for Focus, led the course, which will be offered again to new students next fall. Under her guidance, students learned road safety, riding techniques, and teamwork skills, culminating in a final ride that celebrated their readiness to take to the streets with confidence. "Our goal is to empower students with the skills and excitement to make riding bikes part of their lives," said Lusk. Thanks to Paula Laggis for writing the grant that made the program at William Thomas Middle School possible. A generous donation from the Outride organization, which provided a fleet of 30 Specialized Rockhopper mountain bikes and bright yellow helmets, ensured all students had safe, high-quality gear. Each graduate received a new helmet to keep, encouraging them to continue riding with safety in mind.
The success of the program was strengthened by community involvement. School Resource Officer Larry Jones regularly joined the rides, fostering relationships with students and modeling safe riding practices. Seniors Tanner Mills and Carter Payne were instrumental as student helpers, guiding younger riders and building camaraderie within the group. Seniors Cameron De La Cruz and Luis Ambriz completed their senior project by designing and preparing a dedicated garage space for bike and equipment storage. Special thanks go to Barrie’s, the bike shop in Pocatello, for providing bike tuning and technical support. William Thomas Middle School looks forward to offering Riding for Focus again next fall, expecting even greater student engagement and community support.