Back for its 4th season High Ponies held one of their sessions on Tuesday afternoon, where children from grades K-5 collectively chanted as the High Ponies high school volunteers unscrambled letters in front of the large group of children to finally spell out citizenship. Mayor Terry Seitz who joined the event later on, spoke about what it means to be an active and contributing citizen for the Jasper community.
High Ponies Program Director, Jill Wigand, shares that she envisioned to create a free program to be accessible to all who want to participate and learn about the fundamentals of gymnastics, cheerleading, hip hop and pom dance techniques. This program is free to any boy or girl in the Greater Jasper School Corporation.
The name of the program represents a more symbolic meaning than the hair trend during physical activity, it also reflects the emphasize of raising the self-esteem, education of positive character traits, exercise, and more for the children who participate.
This program also serves as a gateway to confidence and peer support building as Wigand also incorporates a mentoring element with current and former Jasper high School cheerleaders and dance member participating as instructors.
Wigand elaborated that the high school volunteers mentoring is an important component to High Ponies as it also it also helps the volunteers with positive decisions as being a role model holds them accountable of their actions as well. Wigand says she hopes to continue High Ponies and incorporate more sport activities.
The next High Ponies free event is next Tuesday, April 26th from 6pm-7:30pm in one of the Jasper Middle School gyms.
