Mr. S, as the students know him, started teaching Archery at Pershing West three years ago. The program is part of the National Archery in the Schools Program. Already a teacher at Pershing West, Mr. S. approached Principal Watkins about starting an Archery Program. With no hesitation, he received a ‘yes’ , applied for a grant and the program was born. The grant helped cover the cost of the supplies, which don’t come cheap. The school has five Olympic style targets, 12 bows and practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Now, you may wonder: What is so great about an Archery Program in Chicago?

Let’s start with the basics. There are three area high schools that teach Archery – Pershing West is the only elementary school. Archery requires patience, hand/eye coordination and the ability to make an arrow glide through various natural elements – not an easy task. Olympians are known to shoot from as far as 50 yards. Imagine shooting an arrow half the distance of a football field, peering through a small circle, then hoping that arrow lands in the center of the target.

Read more here:
Pulling the String of Imagination – A Look into Pershing West’s Archery Program