For Immediate Release

Thursday, May 3, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

 Former BMX Stunt Champion Chris Poulos Visits Hull Elementary School for “Everyday Hero” Presentation

HULL — Lillian M. Jacobs Elementary School students received a special visit last week from former BMX bicycle stunt champion and motivational speaker Chris Poulos during their Spirit Day assembly.

The monthly assemblies are designed to celebrate school spirit and give students the opportunity to discuss topics relevant to what’s going on in the building.

On Friday, April 27, students gathered in the gymnasium to listen to Poulos’ speech, titled “Everyday Hero: The Guide to Being an Upstander,” which he delivered while riding around and performing tricks.

“Chris’ emphasis on kindness, friendship and respect aligned well with the Jacobs School core values and emphasis on the growth mindset,” Assistant Principal Kyle Shaw said. “His presentation was interactive and compelling, and you could tell just by watching students that they were taking in everything he had to say.”

His presentation, which focused on safety, respect and the importance of pursuing your dreams, included several key points for students to keep in mind.

Be respectful of others: Be nice to people, cooperate and use kind words. One of Jacobs core values is “I will respect others,” so the group discussed how to earn respect. (Don’t be a bully, help someone in need, share, etc.)
Practice: Hard work pays off, so always do your best. Some stunts took Poulos weeks, months and even years to learn and master. Persevering through adversity leads to success.
Be a thinker: If you made a mistake, how would you do something differently if you had to do it again?
Don’t be afraid to apologize: Use courage to say you’re sorry when you do something wrong.
Be safe: Wear a helmet, use a seat belt, walk (don’t run) in the hallways. Listen to adults and teachers. Their words of wisdom are meant to keep you safe.
Make new friends: Poulos demonstrated with a group of students how to invite a new person into a group.

“I learned to be kind to everyone,” said a first grade student Maggie Jones after Poulos’ performance.

“I learned to be safe on a bike by wearing a helmet,” added first grade student Tess Schultz.

About Chris Poulos:

Growing up as a kid with a lot of energy, Poulos quickly realized he was able to focus that energy on perfecting a skill, which he turned into an acclaimed career. He has won 85 worldwide competitions, but is most well-known for winning the international 1991 Bicycle Stunt World Championship and 1990 and 1991 National Bicycle Stunt Championships. Poulos now travels to schools as a motivational speaker, talking about subjects like overcoming fear, respect and finding balance in everyday life.

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