Walking program
sprints to early success
The innovative walking
program at A.W. Becker
Elementary School is a
success, Principal
Claudia Verga told the
Board of Education on
Monday.
Launched on January 23,
the program was designed
to
fill playground time
with constructive
activities and address
discipline problems that
were developing on the
playground, Verga said.
Physical
education teacher Greg
Ronca and counselor
Julia Aldrich developed
the initiative, Ronca
said, with students in
grades 2 through 5
taking part twice a
week. The students walk
the circle in front of
A.W.B. - an
approximately 1/8 mile
course - as many
times as possible. Seven
times around the circle
is equivalent to a mile
- which, Ronca said, is
the ideal goal for each
walking session.
The program accommodates
each student’s
individual athletic
ability, students have
the option to not only
walk but to perform
additional aerobic
activities as follows:
Ronca said the program
Fights youth obesity
Reduces playground
hassles
Keeps students active
Recharges students
for the second half of the school day
Is simple to run
and inexpensive.
"After the activity,
students will feel more
energized and motivated
going into the next
class, thus stimulating
their ability to learn,"
Ronca said.
While the program began
with a mandatory two
week session for all
students, the program is
now voluntary. Despite
that, Ronca said that
enrollment remains high.
Eighty-four percent of
second grade students
take part presently,
while 53 percent of
third grade students do
so, as do 63% of fourth
grade students. In the
fifth grade, 53% of the
students walk during
their recess.
