Pictured are the 1993-94 third graders performing their parachute routine to “Achy Breaky Heart” and “I’m In A Hurry To Get Things Done.”

Submitted by Patty Rolofson, former Tarkio Elementary third grade teacher

The parachute routine is a long standing tradition performed by the third graders of the Tarkio Elementary School. If a person is asked if they remember doing the routine, they do and enthusiastically say how much fun it was. And most often they remember the song that they performed to!

The parachute routine was first done in 1975 as a result of the efforts of then elementary PE teacher Nancy Barrett. She, along with Sid Cooper, the music teacher, listened to music, compared the motions that could be done with a group of children holding onto a parachute, and then choreographed a parachute routine. They needed children and decided that third graders would be the best fit. Patty Rolofson and Zach Kerbis were the third grade teachers who supported their students in this exciting endeavor. The first routine was done to the song “Hava Nagila” and because of the large class size, two parachutes were used.

Nancy had borrowed parachutes from Northwest Missouri State University (NWMSU) physical education department. It only took one performance to see that this would quickly become a popular part of the third grade PE experience. Tarkio staff members, Roger Bryan, Max Gregg and Rick Barrett (Nancy’s husband), later made a trip to Jefferson City Army Surplus store and lo and behold . . . a parachute was found! Eventually, a new one needed to be purchased, which was much more colorful!

The traditional parachute routine would be performed between the girls’ and boys’ basketball games in the high school gym. Practice during the regular PE and music classes started several weeks before the performance. Close to the performance date, the students would go over to the high school gym to practice. The night of the performance would find a packed gym of proud parents, grandparents and friends. The end of the routine included the children lifting the parachute up in the air and then turning around, hiding under the parachute and lastly poking their heads out. The students always received a well deserved round of applause!

Only one year did the children have costumes for their performance. A third grade mother, Pam Koch, used her creative mind to make costumes appropriate for the song, “I Heard It Through The Grapevine.” Pam created raisin costumes out of trash bags, bow ties and white gloves.

The parachute routine has been performed every year with the exception of one due to the class being too small. Over the years, teachers Susan Slaughter, Melody Barnett, Jamie Watkins, and Cindy Rolf, as well as many more have diligently helped around 1,000 third graders learn an endearing routine. As Nancy said, “This is an explanation of what  the  parachute  represented . . . a unique performance by third grade children with a parachute. At that time period, it was unusual.”