PE class gives home-schooled children an outlet

Children attending the home school physical education class offered by the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department agree: "It's fun."

The class, for students age 5 to 15, started in September and goes for 12 weeks. This is the third year the class has been offered, said Stacey Welter, recreation coordinator for the Parks and Recreation Department. Another slate of classes will be offered in the spring.

Activities, supervised by four instructors, include everything from volleyball and soccer to bowling and water polo. The cost is $22 per child.

Emma Greene, Isaiah McMullen and Bailey Underwood are just three of about 40 children taking part in the fall session. They were interviewed during a recent Friday class at the Osage Centre, which included relay races during which the children raced across the gym, grabbed a hula hoop, tried to hula and ran back across the gym.

"I think if you're home-schooled, you should come here a lot to get fit and have fun and meet new friends," 12-year-old Isaiah said.

Bailey Underwood dribbles the ball towards the goal, Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, during her homeschool physical education class at Shawnee Park Center in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Bailey, 10, said her favorite games are capture the flag and Dr. Dodgeball.

In capture the flag, players on two teams try to capture the other team's flag and return it to their side without being captured and imprisoned.

Dr. Dodgeball is dodge ball, but with a "doctor" who can get players back in the game, students explained.

Angie Laws has four children, ages 9, 8, 4 and 2. Her 8- and 9-year-olds are in the PE class.

"It's hard to do PE on your own at home because you have a small group. To be able to do it here is nice and the price is right, too," she said.

From left, Vincent Ripley, Riley Holdiness, Noah McMullen, Andrew Greene, Nate McMullen and Deklin Shannon play sideline soccer, Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, during their homeschool physical education class at Shawnee Park Center in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Andrea Roseman has two children, ages 8 and 10, who have been attending year-round and plan to register for spring classes.

"We ... had heard really good things about it from some friends whose children had done it. It just gave us another opportunity for something that required physical activity," Roseman said. "Some of the games we play there, it's not something we could do on our own" because she has only two children.

"They really like it and they really look forward to it," Roseman said. "When we sat down to re-evaluate our outside commitments, that was something they wanted to do again. [It] was a definite 'yes.'"

While Roseman said her children are exposed to people of all ages all the time, they do look forward to seeing the children at PE.

"That's a plus," Roseman said, adding they "definitely" like being with friends.

Kabaina Underwood takes a break from playing sideline soccer to tie her shoelaces, Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, at Shawnee Park Center in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

"We live in a neighborhood full of children. We're in Cub Scouts, 4-H, Upward cheerleading. We do an art class. We're involved in our church [Lynwood Baptist]. They have plenty of opportunity" to meet peers, Roseman said.

She added that one of her friends, Dawn Smith, teaches first grade at Clippard Elementary School, and Roseman and her children volunteer to read to students there once a month.

"It gives them an opportunity to read out loud and use expression," Roseman said.

Welter said home school PE started because parents approached the parks department.

"So we just kind of went from there," she said.

Andrew Greene dribbles the ball while playing sideline soccer. (Laura Simon)

Spring classes normally start toward the end of January, but there's no set date yet. Also, because of the number of children who attend the class, it may be offered on two different days next session, Welter said.

Welter said word-of-mouth about the class has been spreading, which will probably generate more interest.

"I think the two classes will help out, as well," because smaller classes will allow for more individual attention, she said.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Homeschooled students play sideline soccer, Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, during their physical education class at Shawnee Park Center in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

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1625 N. Kingshighway St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.