By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN — Students from the Dearborn Academy were eager to learn about education, nutrition and exercise from the Detroit Red Wings.
On Jan. 27 first- through fifth-graders dressed in Red Wings gear gathered in the school cafeteria for the interactive assembly.
Two assembly team coaches from the Red Wings Foundation, Zach Konnie and Jim Biewer, began the afternoon with Red Wings trivia.
Questions, such as “How many Stanley Cups do the Red Wings have?” and “What is the name of the arena the Red Wings play and practice in?” were answered by students for prizes.
Next, they talked to the students about the importance of education and dedication in school and in sports.
The coaches told students that the same way they learn lessons from their teachers, Red Wings players learn skills from their coaches on a daily basis.
Coaches also told students that similar to them having tests in the classroom, the Red Wings players have tests on the ice, 82 of them throughout the regular season.
Students were asked to name their favorite subjects and they answered with math, science, gym and language arts.
Coaches continued to educate students on making healthy choices regarding food selection. They held up photos of healthy and unhealthy foods and asked students to answer yes or no for each good and bad choice.
Students were selected to play in a stick handling relay race and lead the other students in different exercises.
Coaches ended the speaking portion of the assembly with messages about eating healthy, education and the importance of daily exercise.
Lastly, six students were selected to play against six teachers in a classic shootout. The students dominated the teachers winning 5-1 as students in the audience cheered.
The street hockey gear used to play the various games was donated to the academy for students to play with, courtesy of the Red Wings Foundation.
The school also received a banner to hang in the building acknowledging its participation in the program.
Schools can register for the free program online at www.redwings.nhl.com, but registration does not guarantee the school will be selected.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected].)