WASHINGTON FIT KIDS GET SCHOOLS MOVING One classroom at a time br> Summitview Elementary School students will "Go the Distance for Daniels" - their sister school located in South Africa by collectively running over 10,200 miles this year. They are also raising funds for their sister school along the way and they intend to virtually reach the school in April of 2007 to deliver the check. http://www.yakimaherald.com/page/dis/286281692141665 How does a school begin a running programÉ during class-time? ÒOne classroom at a time,Ó say Washington FitKids organizers Tom Kelleher and Kathleen Goyette. Kelleher and Goyette started the Washington FitKids Project as an offshoot of an adult statewide health and fitness initiative they were working on. Goyette says, ÒIt is clear that we need to attack the obesity epidemic from every angleÉ and in my mind that means creating a cycle of education and action where we have kids educating & motivating parents who in turn continue to educate and motivate their kids.Ó The Washington FitKids model was built on the foundation that teaching students how to care for their bodies is as important as teaching them how to develop their minds. That said, organizers reached out to a teacher who had already created a successful model for running with her students. FitKids volunteers took that model and added a couple of components and tested the program in two classrooms for the first year. First year results were impressive with the first-graders who participated in the program posting a class average of time for the 400 that was 40 seconds faster than other first grade classes in the district! The students collectively covered nearly 3000 miles. Program modifications were made and the program was offered to all teachers at Summitview Elementary School. ÒWe were thrilled to learn that all 11 teachers at the school had committed to the Washington FitKids ProgramÉ this program requires not only a time commitment from the teacher, but a commitment to participate as a movement mentor, and the fact that an entire school has made this effort is remarkableÓ noted Kelleher. 2006 RESULTS - 11 Classrooms participating - Running .25 - .5 miles per school day 3 Ð 4 days per week - Teachers run as ÒMovement MentorsÓ - Local professional athletes attend class to talk about importance of nutrition & exercise - Community Mentors eat healthy lunches with kids - Parents invited to run on special Parent Bonus Mileage Days - A total of 9,332.4 miles completed from January 17 Ð June 2, 2006 - Set goal of 10,200 miles to virtually ÒGo the Distance for DanielsÓ our Sister School in Port Elizabeth Township, South Africa What it takes to get FitKids Classroom Started: 1. Find a committed teacher who is willing to take 7 minutes out of their instructional time 4 days per week to run with their students. 2. Meet with school principal and administration to gain approval for program (this program meets many statesÕ directive for addressing childhood obesity). 3. We recommend online tracking system through WorkFit PlayFit which allows mileage tracking, mileage mapping, graphing, nutritional information and logging, and a classroom blog for the students which can be printed at the end of the year. We found that the Web site allowed for more complete integration of the program with curriculum. 4. Find community volunteers to help as Movement Mentors and Nutritional Mentors For more information on this program email: tom@workfitplayfit.com or call 509.961.5706. For more information about this effort contact: Kathleen Goyette 509.945.3189 Email the kidsruning editor at rwedit@rodale.com.