| “Your performance
was spectacular, but even better was the positive
message of giving your best effort and to
not measure  your
success by comparing yourself to others. One teacher even
said, ‘It was the best assembly I’ve seen,’
and she has been teaching here for more than 20 years.”
Amy Tischler, Livonia, MI.
“Rene gave a fabulous performance. I have received
a barrage of positive feedback from staff, parents and students.
I would highly recommend Rene!”
Vida Town, Seattle, WA
“We have many different assemblies come to Russell
throughout each school year, but I have never heard so
many compliments before…from the students,
our staff, and the administrators.” Krissa Baylor,
Milpitas, CA
"It's not jus the Best Jump
Rope Assembly and Double dutch assembly I've seen,
it's the best assembly, we've ever had."
“I would like to thank you for touching the lives
of our children and teachers...you have a special
gift to teach, and you do it with passion.
Our teachers are still crying tears of happiness for the
positive experience you created for our students.”
Doug Stebbins, West Carollton, OH.
“The kids and staff are still talking about Rene
Day. After 33 years I don’t
impress easily, but you were worth the wait.
You were terrific.” Bob Scharer, Carnation, Washington
“Dear Rene—I don’t know where to start.
I have never seen 600 students so attentive and engaged
in an assembly. Their enthusiasm was very touching. Teachers
were very impressed—“Best
assembly in 30 years.” The entire
school was motivated to continue discussions, write essays,
and do projects on achieving your personal best. Kids are
jump roping at recess.” Mary Jo Stacks, East Lansing,
MI
“Thank you again for your fantastic visit to Madison!
I have heard so many positive comments from the teachers,
kids and parents. Everyone was thrilled! You have an amazing
gift to inspire people and to make them
feel ready and able to take on a challenge. Thank you for
sharing that with our school.” Liz Heinrichs, Madison,
WI
“René is a natural on stage and she dazzled
our lower and middle school students. She is a ‘must-have’
guest speaker for all schools!” Shannon
Graves, Kamuela, HI.
“Having René was the highlight performance
of the school year. My students
are still talking about her.” Emily
Adams, Kennesaw, GA.
“I heard SOOOOO many
positive comments about your show from both staff and students.
Later, a fifth-grade student who has low self esteem said,
‘I’m going to stay positive. I know I can do
better.’ Those feelings came directly from your show!”
Kathy Wells, Beaverton, OR.
“René is tremendous. Not only is she incredibly
talented, but more importantly, she delivers a wonderful
and useful message. I could not recommend
this powerful presentation strongly enough.” Dan Maslana,
Pleasanton, CA.
“What people need to know about René is that
she is more than an entertainer
- she’s a teacher.” Patti Tibaldi,
Traverse City, MI – through grant sources, Patti has
brought René to 20 schools.
WOW!! WOW!! HOW AWESOME IS
RENE?
We loved it! The kids and staff were wonderfully entertained
and left with great enthusiasm and a reminder to stay focused
and to face their greatest challenges a step at a time.
Mistakes are indeed an important part in learning. I was
so thrilled with her performance and message. Definitely
a return visit would be a blessing.
Thank you for the opportunity to encourage our kids. It's
Student
Achievement Testing season accross the US and we were in
need of a little boost of energy and motivation. Rene was
amazing. Aloha, Kim McCarty Hawaii
Testimonials by State
Bibaud shares joys of jumping
World jump rope champ visits area elementary
schools
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
A fistful of adjectives - dynamic, energetic, committed,
inspiring - does not begin to describe Rene Bibaud.
The Seattle resident is a five-time world champion of jump
rope and has made a career out of what could never be termed
child's play after watching her routine. "I have been
jumping for 24 years performing, competing and coaching,"
she told students at Oak Park Elementary School on Wednesday
morning. "This is my job, I travel to hundreds of schools
every year performing and teaching." "Rope jumping
is a great way to stay in shape and have fun," added
Bibaud, also making sure to address the 'cool' factor of
her sport: "A lot of professional athletes jump rope
to keep in shape, basketball players, swimmers, volleyball
players and skiers." Bibaud hit town last week to amaze
and inspire hundreds of area students, including those at
four Traverse City Area Public Schools elementary schools.
During her hour-long presentations at Eastern, Oak Park,
Willow Hill and Old Mission Elementary Schools, she jumped
and taught other students to jump in front of the whole
school. Each school's Parent Teacher Organization sponsored
her visit. After introducing herself, Bibaud demonstrated
her competitive freestyle routine, morphing into a blur
of action and gravity-defying moves with her jump rope.
Bibaud then got down to her mission: use jump rope to convey
messages of self-esteem and personal empowerment to children.
Traveling to schools nationwide, Bibaud shares her personal
journey with the jump rope.
When she was in the fifth grade, a demonstration team visited
her school and a teacher was inspired to start a jump rope
team, called the Hot Dogs. "I wanted to be on that
team, but I wasn't good enough," Bibaud shared with
the students at Oak Park.
The next year, she tried out again and this time listened
carefully to the coach's three mantras: try you best, work
at your own level and be willing to make mistakes but continue
trying. She internalized these concepts and now shares them
to others as a means to create their own success. "I
made the team that year but I still wasn't the best jumper,"
recalled Bibaud. "But I got to where I am today, a
five time world champion and four years with Cirque Du Soliel,
because of those three things that I learned in sixth grade."
Bibaud brought students out on the gym floor to try their
hand at basic jumps. Then she had them try a trickier, one-legged
jump and next brought another crew out to demonstrate paired
jumping. Double Dutch jumping rounded out her program, as
she had students and a teacher try their hands and navigating
two ropes at once.
"I jump rope in gym and am actually working on a routine
with other sixth graders for an assembly at the end of the
month," said Madelaine Mitchell-Ward, a sixth grade
student at Oak Park Elementary and a volunteer jumper with
Bibaud. "I really like jump roping and I think it was
really fun." Mitchell-Ward left the assembly inspired
to try harder and jump rope more often. She said she has
struggle in the past learning to jump Double Dutch, never
really getting it. But after watching a kindergarten student
master the footwork and timing, she is now determined to
master it. "She showed that little kid learning it
and now I'm going to try it," she said.
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“René has performed with
Cirque du Soleil since 1996. Her work is
creative and dynamic.
She knows how to keep an audience enthralled. I can whole-heartedly
recommend René.” Jacques Marcotte, Artistic
Coordinator, Cirque du Soleil Special Events.
"René electrified
the Lynx crowd with her one-of-a-kind
talent! The crowd was thrilled with René's
show!” Chad Folkestad, Minnesota Lynx & Timberwolves.
Rene performed during half-time of our men's basketball
game vs. UCLA. Rene wowed
the crowd and was one of the best halftime acts we've had!
I had numerous people ask me after the performance
where we had found her. The game was nationally televised
on ABC and a portion of the halftime performance was even
picked up on TV. We would welcome Rene back any time she
is in Seattle! Amy Wilson, Assistant Director of Marketing
& Promotions.
“Not only did René perform a great act for
us, but she's a true pro to
work with. She has a solid WNBA halftime
show to offer and I think people in my line of work will
really enjoy working with her.” Mike Chant, NY Liberty
& Knicks.
“René warmed the hearts of the crowd. She
received a standing ovation
and ESPN ran 30 seconds of her performance
during their game of the week, which is practically unheard
of. We’ll definitely have her back.” Mark Hollis,
Associate Athletic Director, Michigan State University.
“I thought Rene’s “Hot Dog” Assembly
hit home for all of the students she encountered
at Union Hill Elementary and Archdale Trinity Middle School.
In fact, the teachers and principals commented on how they
were grateful to have been awarded the program but were
skeptical about a jump roper keeping the attention of up
to 300 students at one time. She used her extraordinary
jump roping skills to capture
their attention, keep them involved and
then delivered a very powerful
message about accepting our differences and the idea of
facing and overcoming challenges in our lives.
Rene also performed a high energy
half-time routine using fans in the audience as well
as band members and cheerleaders – she kept the energy
in the coliseum pumped up. We were very grateful to have
Rene at the 2006 ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament
– 2 school assemblies,
an educational outreach program and a half-time performance
all in 2 days!”
– Bernie McGlade, Associate Commissioner at the Atlantic
Coast Conference
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