For Immediate Release: Tuesday, May 28, 2019
From the Office of Councilmember Hans Riemer
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 24, 2019—Councilmember Hans Riemer will join students, families and community members for an Excel Beyond the Bell bike ride event and end-of-program celebration. For the past six weeks, over 40 third-graders have received hands on learning and coaching on the basics of riding a bicycle and doing so safely. The event will take place at Oak View Elementary School (400 E. Wayne Ave. in Silver Spring) on Wednesday, May 29 from 4 p.m. to 5:45 p.m and will include a two mile bike ride enabling students to showcase their new skills.
“Learning to ride a bike as a kid was a profound personal experience that gave me freedom, self-confidence and independence,” said Councilmember Riemer. “Teaching safe bike riding at an early age makes for safe pedestrians and attentive future drivers. Hopefully, we'll be able to provide this lifelong learning skill at all elementary schools as DCPS has done.”
Excel Beyond the Bell is a collaborative program between Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and other County departments and agencies which gives students access to recreational and social programs, academic support, nutritious meals and safe bus transportation. It allows students to explore the creative arts, STEM, sports, leadership and other areas. In the Fiscal Year 2020 Operating Budget, which was passed unanimously by the Council on Thursday, May 23, the Council allocated an additional $837,620 for four new Excel Beyond the Bell elementary school programs.
The Excel Beyond the Bell celebration was organized in a partnership between Montgomery County Department of Recreation, WABA (Washington Area Bicyclist Association), Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, Montgomery County Department of Transportation, MCPS and Councilmember Riemer.
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