Archery Expands to Grades 3 - 8 PE Classes

Thanks to the generosity of community contributors, the BHS Foundation granted new archery kits to grades 3 to 8, expanding the program that was once only taught at North Hills Middle School, to five more schools. 

Physical Education teacher Ryan Smith, who has been teaching archery for six years, brought the program to BHS when he began teaching at North Hills Middle School. Expanding it to other schools and grades has been very exciting. Smith stated, “Archery is a great experience for students because it doesn't matter how athletic students are. All students use the same equipment, have minimal background experience, and the main skills are focus, consistency, and concentration.” 

The elementary schools use foam arrows and a different set of bows and targets, which they share among the four schools. The middle schools use more sophisticated equipment, which requires a teaching certification. Each middle school PE teacher completed training to teach archery, not only to learn technique, but also to ensure safety. Jay Leitz, a PE teacher at North Hills, taught it to students for the first time this year. Leitz said, “The safety protocols and steps to becoming a proficient archer are difficult. Some kids are picking it up really quickly. It’s taking time for others.”

Eli Leung (grade 6) said, “I have tried this at home, but it’s different here because the bow is different.” Leitz instructed a class to hold the bow in their non-dominant hand, and pull the arrow back to their cheek on the string using their three middle fingers to help stabilize the arrow. Additionally, no one is allowed to speak to anyone with a bow. Lesson one focuses on safety and how to hold the bow. Then they can start practicing with arrows. Smith said, “It is extremely fulfilling for students, and myself, when they are able to hit the target and have their arrow stick.  You can see how proud and accomplished students feel the more practice they get.” 

Thanks to Smith, and the Bloomfield Hills Schools Foundation, BHS students can now add archery to their physical education quiver.