“Altimira Loves the Tour!”

For Principal Sydney Smith at Altimira Middle School, everyday good behavior and random acts of kindness deserve a prize. At the school, they record good deeds on “Pack Paw Cards,” and a student gets one for doing things such as completing all homework for the week, showing exceptional kindness, picking up trash, and being especially helpful to new students. Last week, when the AMGEN Tour of California was due to roll through Glen Ellen, Smith decided to reward some “Pack Paw” earners with a surprise trip.
“Students need rewards and they need to have fun!” explained Smith. ”After experiencing the rush of the Tour of California myself for the first time last year, I knew that this was an event that would dazzle and amaze my students. And because it was going to happen right in our own backyard, I thought, ‘Why not?’”
She prepped seven students on the bicycle race and told them about the great Levi Leipheimer of Santa Rosa, who won the Tour last year. The students were Jonah Berstein, Billy David, Andrew DeMartini, Jose Garcia, Jennifer Howlett, Christina Morris, and Isabel Santoyo. They made signs with slogans like “Go Levi!” and “Altimira Middle School Loves the Tour!”

Ready to cheer riders at AMGEN Tour of Caliornia are, from left, Christina Morris, Isabel Santoyo, Jennifer Howlett, Jose Garcia, Billy David, Andrew DeMartini, and Jonah Berstein.

submitted photo

“The kids screamed and waved their signs with gusto as the riders went by,” said Smith. “Their enthusiasm and excitement was absolutely contagious. Seeing my students experience something new and hearing the excitement in their voices as we drove back to AMS was truly a reward for me, too!” Smith hopes to make this an annual event and take a whole busload of students next year. “I want Santa Rosa to know that they aren’t the only city that loves ‘The Tour’!”
Leipheimer went on to win the Stage 5 individual time trial on Friday and to claim the overall victory for the second consecutive year when the Tour concluded in Pasadena on Sunday.

More from What's HappeningMore posts in What's Happening »