BELFAST – When George Robertson School teacher Page Dilts rides a leg of the Ground Zero-to-Pentagon bicycle run this weekend, the school’s student body will be riding in spirit alongside her.

The 160 elementary pupils crafted a big banner that will accompany Dilts and will be put on display at the start of the trek Friday at the site of the World Trade Center in New York and will be waiting for the riders when they arrive at the Pentagon in Virginia on Sunday.

The banner consists of nine individual panels containing designs depicting the event and listing the names of each Robertson School pupil.

Included on the panel are drawings of the trade towers, the Statue of Liberty, the globe and the American eagle.

The Face of America 2002 bicycle ride is sponsored by World Team Sports, the same educational group that in recent years has conducted bicycle rides across the United States and Vietnam.

“We are doing this in memory of the children who lost their parents on 9-11,” Dilts said Wednesday. “This will be from the children of SAD 34 to the children of 9-11.”

Dilts said the ride is of particular significance to her because her son, Ian, was working a few blocks away from the trade towers last September. She said she did not learn that he was safe until late that evening.

“I feel I have a real closeness because of that,” she said.

Dilts has incorporated her ride into the school’s curriculum. Each of her third- and fourth-grade pupils has a hand-drawn bicycle on a classroom bulletin board and each is allowed to affix a sticker to the picture every time one of them exhibits specific characteristics dealing with tolerance for others.

Each sticker represents one mile, and the pupils’ goals are to earn 50 miles’ worth of stickers in recognition of their teacher’s 50-mile bicycle ride. Dilts will ride just one day, from New York, but not all the way to Washington.

The pupils earn stickers by showing understanding, patience, tolerance, diversity, kindness, acceptance, support and a caring attitude toward each other. There is no ballot stuffing, as the sticker awards are discussed among the pupils and handed out before the entire class.

“I wanted to show them role models outside the classroom, and they have been quite involved from the beginning of the school year,” Dilts said. “We have done a lot within the curriculum, and each day we try to do a lesson on the characteristics we are trying to instill in these children.”

The pupils also composed the following song to their teacher:

“Mrs. Dilts you’re going to ground zero. We recognize you as a hero.

“You’re riding your bike 50 miles. To help Americans find their smiles.

“We hope your bike stays on the track. And you won’t complain about your back.

“Your legs will be so very sore. You won’t want to ride your bike no more.

“What you are doing is very cool. You have the support of the Robertson School.

“We will miss you when you’re gone. And that is why we wrote this song.

“Wishing you luck, success and joy. Is the Robertson staff and every girl and boy.”