ADDISON COUNTY — Despite most activities being canceled due to COVID-19, students from TaeKwon Do KICKS in Middlebury, Vergennes, Orwell and Hinesburg kept on kicking. March and April were spent doing Zoom classes, which were taught three times a day every weekday.
May started the transition to outside group classes. Students trained at different locations through rain and 90-degree temperatures, only canceling if there were thunderstorms. These students have been dedicated and working with much support from their families and have been able to still earn new belts. Some received the rank of black belt.
Some also participated in the annual Break-a-Thon. The week everything shut down was the week students were supposed break their boards to earn pledges to support local fire and rescue squads. Students raised over $5,000 in support of Vergennes, Hinesburg, Shoreham and Bridport fire departments; Vergennes and Middlebury rescue services; and Pittsford’s Cadet Program.