Iredell-Statesville Schools School & Family Magazine February 2018 | Page 9

Speed Stacking at
Sharon Elementary
On November 9, 2017, Sharon Elementary School joined other organizations, schools, and
clubs around the world in attempt to beat a Guinness World Record for the “Most People Sport
Stacking at Multiple Locations in One Day”. Although we waited for the results to come in, the
record still stands, but students learned from the experience and enjoyed it as well.
Students in first grade all the way through fifth grade participated at Sharon Elementary
School, but it didn’t just stop there. Staff members, parents, grandparents, and volunteers also
came out to participate in this challenge. Speed stacking was unfamiliar to some participants, but
the students knew just what to do.
“Our PE program uses speed stacks,” commented Katie Flandreau, Physical Education
instructor at Sharon Elementary School. She added, “It [Speed Stacking] is a fitness-based sport
that appeals to kids from all backgrounds and abilities. For the athlete and non-athlete alike,
sport stacking is a great activity for promoting fitness, achievement and inclusiveness. Some
of the research-proven benefits include: improved hand-eye coordination, reaction time, right-
and left-brain activation/bilateral coordination, exercise for the body and energizer for the brain,
focus, concentration and ambidexterity.”
While the goal to break the Guinness World Record is huge, the school just wants to play a part.
“We’re a very small part, but we’re doing our part. I want the students to experience this and
get excited about this so that one day they can say ‘I participated’ when talking about world
records,” explained Flandreau.
As students cheered for each other during relays and displayed huge smiles on their faces, it
is safe to say they had fun.
“I’m having fun, but need a bit more practice,” stated Lane Sharpe, a third-grade student at
Sharon Elementary School when asked about his performance during the event.
Students from several elementary schools throughout Iredell-Statesville Schools participated
in this challenge on November 9, 2017. While the Guinness World Record, set in 2016,
still stands at 622,809 people, this year’s challenge (578,704 participants) provided a fun
competition and time of learning.
Iredell-Statesville School & Family 7