A program designed to fill
play time with constructive
activities that boost
physical fitness is underway at the A.W. Becker Elementary
School.
More than a
hundred students
pre-registered for the lunch
time walking program that combines the
rambunctious energy of
grades 2 through 5 -students
in lunch break with their
competitive spirit and a
health-conscious concept.
The program
is the brainchild of
physical education teacher
Greg Ronca and counselor
Julia Aldrich.
"We wanted to
cut down on the playground
hassles and funnel that
energy into something that
is healthy and coincides
with our overall goal of
teaching a healthy
lifestyle," said Ronca.
Students
volunteer to take part in
the program and walk a
circular, approximately 1/8
mile course around the front
parking lot of the school.
Each class of
students walks the course
twice a week.
"It's about
adding some structure to
focusing the energy students
have on healthy habits, as
well as encouraging students
to get active and perhaps
introduce them to a lifetime
of lunch-hour exercise,"
said Ronca.
Prizes,
purchased by the A.W.Becker
PTA, will be awarded
periodically for such
accomplishments as most
miles walked by a grade or
most students competing from
a class.
Later this
semester, dozens of students
in the school will also be
meeting before school to
take part in the
Wackadoodles Running Club
which is designed to prepare
students for the Freihofer's
run in June.
