NAME:
Mrs. Cindy Clifford
SCHOOL:
St.Denis /St.Columba School
CLASS:
Physical Education - Grades 1-8
SCHOOL PHONE:
(845)227-7777
Mrs. Clifford made the decision to become a teacher in the field of
Physical Education when she was in the seventh grade. She made that
decision because of the connection she had made with her Phys.Ed. teachers
(especially Mrs. Darcy) and the connection she was making with sports in
general. She took advantage of the opportunity to play Field hockey, Soccer,
Softball,Tennis, Basketball, Volleyball and train extensively on a
professional trampoline. Most of these sports were either after school or
interscholastic. In High School she played for the girls basketball team and
went out for the track team. There was not a girls team so she, and a handful
of other girls, practiced with the boys. She was then chosen to be a
cheerleader and did that for the remainder of high school as well as
participate in a number of clubs and school programs..
Her college experience began at Dean Junior College and continued at
Springfield College.
This offered additional sports opportunities where she was chosen to compete
in Field Hockey, Basketball,Tennis, Swimming, Water Stunts and
Diving, Rugby, Volleyball, Lacrosse and Track and Field. All of this led to
additional team competition, teaching assistanships in her skills classes and
the drive to pursue a career in the field of health and fitness. Her first
year of college she was presented with the most outstanding freshman physical
education award and entered into her college Hall of Fame. She was awarded her
Bachelor degree from Springfield College in HEALTH, PHYSICAL
EDUCATION,RECREATION AND DANCE for grades K-12 and continued her education at
Queens College in Exercise Physiology.
After 13 years of designing and managing corporate Fitness Centers where she
created and taught a wide variety of health and fitness classes,trained for
and presented stress management,stop smoking and relaxation seminars she
began to plan a family and chose to leave her full time job and dedicate her
time to being a full-time mom. When both of her children were old enough to be
in school she made her way back to teaching in the school system.
Mrs. Clifford helps her husband with his business of building, maintaining and
racing Vintage Race Cars so a part time job was what she was looking for. The
same year her youngest child was to enter first grade an opening became
available at St. Denis/St. Columba School and the 2011-2012 school year will
be her fourteenth year at St. Denis/ St Columba School.
She teaches conventional activities as well as non-conventional activities
designed to build teamwork skills and problem solving skills. Her interest
is to offer information about health and fitness and provide an atmosphere
in her classes where each student has the opportunity to participate and
find a level of success. Every student may not be an athlete but every
student can succeed.
Mrs. Clifford and her husband have two children of their own, a son and a
daughter. As of this year both of their children are in college studying
education and competing on division one teams.
She looks forward to a terrific school year and welcomes questions, feedback
(both constructive and positive)and comments from both students and parents.
She enjoys the outdoors and most creatures of nature.
Mrs. Clifford’s mission is to offer an atmosphere where all students can
participate and find a level of success. Students will be able to do
traditional activities such as basketball, volleyball, soccer and kickball
as well as a variety of other activities that will work their brains and
their bodies sometimes through non conventional games or problem solving
and team building activities.
Students do not have to be good athletes to succeed in Phys. Ed. She is
looking for participation, willingness to try new activities, team work,
cooperation and problem solving as well as respect for one another. Students
that are obviously good athletes have the opportunity not only to do well
themselves physically but are in a great position to lend a helping hand to
a classmate that the activity may not come to as easily.
