It's only 7:30

a.m., but the balls are already flying in the gym at Peeples Elementary.

Close to 30

youngsters are intent on tossing, catching and bouncing their red, yellow

and blue balls to the beat of the music and the commands issued by Deborah

Friday, PE teacher and juggler extraordinaire.

For 13 years,

Friday has been teaching children how to juggle. Her first Fayette County

team was developed at Burch Elementary, where she taught from 1993 until

this school year, when she came on board at Peeples.

The juggling

bug bit Friday in 1986 when she learned the art and began working with

children at Jackson Academy in Jackson, MS.

"This

is the first year we've had juggling here and I was shocked and surprised

that 31 students made the team," Friday said, following the early

morning practice she leads twice a week.

Tryouts were

held early in the school year. Students were selected for the team based

on their ability to complete 90 "throws" without dropping the

ball. While most of the team is composed of fourth and fifth graders,

one extremely proficient second grader also made the cut.

Friday believes,

as do some juggling experts, that the skill improves concentration and

eye-hand coordination, although she has no formalized data to prove it.

The Peeples

Juggling Team will demonstrate its skills next month at a physical education

conference on Jekyll Island and during the holiday performances at their

school.