National champion skier James Lagerstrom won four medals and participated in five Paralympic competitions.
Paralympic medalist Jim Lagerstron, left, meets with Notre Dame fifth-graders Luke Carballo, second from right, and Sydney Myers to go over their special exhibition project for the IB-PYP Program. Lower division technology coordinator Lin Krankel looks on.
Exhibition is the capstone project for the PYP Program and Notre Dame’s exhibition event is scheduled for Friday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m. in the William Kozyra Assembly Hall located at the lower division.
Lagerstrom, who currently works as Midwest Sales Manager at Fillauer Companies, competed as an Alpine skier in five Winter Paralympic Games from 1992 to 2006 and was inducted into the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame.
More on Lagerstrom
James Lagerstrom’s leg was broken in a snowmobile accident at the age of 5 and due to complications, was amputated a short time later. He learned to water-ski at age 7, played organized hockey and enjoyed snow skiing. At the age of 21, Lagerstrom competed in the Michigan Disabled Ski Championships and enjoyed so much success that he trained and competed in Colorado on a full-time basis the following ski season.
In 1988, Lagerstrom earned a spot on the U.S. Disabled Ski Team and has since competed in five Paralympic competitions, including Albertville, France (1992); Lillehammer, Norway (1994); Nagano, Japan (1998); Salt Lake City, Utah (2002); and Torino, Italy (2006). He is a four-time Paralympic medalist with two silver and two bronze medals. Lagerstrom is also a World Championship medalist, winning both silver and bronze medals in 1990. In addition to his international achievements, he is a six-time U.S. National Champion and was the National Downhill Champion in 2005.
He was named the 1991 Amputee Athlete-of-the-Year for SOAR (Sports and Outdoor Assistive Recreation) and was inducted into the Dearborn Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. Today, Lagerstrom remains active in the disabled skiing community, helping to build the sport and provide improved opportunities for up-and-coming young athletes. His impact on the sport continues with his appointment to the United States Olympic Committee athlete advisory council as a Winter Paralympic Representative.
More on the PYP Exhibition
In the final year of the PYP, students, carry out an extended, in-depth, collaborative project known as the PYP exhibition. This involves students working collaboratively to conduct an in-depth inquiry into real life issues or problems. Students collectively synthesize all of the essential elements of the PYP in ways that can be shared with the whole school community.
It also provides teachers with an authentic process for assessing student understanding. The exhibition represents a unique and significant opportunity for students to exhibit the attributes of the IB learner profile developed throughout their engagement with the PYP. It also provides schools and students with an opportunity to celebrate the transition of learners to the next phase of their education.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.