Staff Writer
On May 16, had anyone been even in the general vicinity of Teague Park Elementary School, they very likely could have heard the music and a great deal of screaming. No, there wasn’t any trouble at the grade school, the students were participating in the final day of Jump Rope for Heart.
Hearts showing the names of family and friends who have heart disease or those who have lost their battle were displayed on the bulletin board inside the gymnasium at Teague Park Elementary School, during the recent Jump Rope for Heart program.
Jump Rope for Heart, is a program designed to enlighten students of the benefits healthy lifestyles. In conjunction with the American Heart Association, the students learn about proper eating habits, why exercise is necessary and the seriousness of heart disease and stroke.
It’s a learning experience made even more fun as the students have four weeks during which they raise pledge money for jumping rope which in turn is donated to the American Heart Association. On the final day, students continue jumping, enjoy other activities such as a limbo competition and finish off their morning of strenuous exercise with fresh fruit.
The gymnasium displayed a wall of hearts, depicting who some of the students were jumping in memory of, friends and family members who were or are the victim of heart disease. Around the gym there were posters, drawn by the students, displaying heart-healthy activities and good eating habits.
Each year, Steve Austin, physical education and health instructor for the grades three and four students tries to come up with a unique incentive that engages the students to work hard to achieve pledges. This year Austin promised the student body that if they raised $5,000 in pledges the top three money-raisers would have the opportunity to shave the locks of Helston Jackson, custodian/bus driver; Pierre Huntress, Ed-Tech; and — the most anticipated of all — the top pledge-getter would have the honor of giving Austin himself, a “new do.”
With the entire student body assembled on the floor in the gymnasium and with staff members working to keep the noise level at a minimum, Austin announced to the eager participants that, “unfortunately they had failed to meet their goal.” With a collective groan the third-and fourth-graders all dipped their heads wondering how this could have happened. Then — Austin broke the news, “We raised $8,232.61”
Needless to say the pandemonium that let loose was deafening, the applause seemingly endless and the smiles — well just picture it.
Austin stated, “Over the past seven years, that we have been involved with this program we have raised $56,000 for the American Heart Association. The students have approximately four weeks to raise their pledge money and their success has been amazing. They raise money for this organization and at the same time they have a good time learning about eating right, the importance of not smoking, the benefits of exercising regularly. It all ties into their physical education and health lessons and they have fun — this is a ‘real life experience’ we’re dealing with.”
Each student who raised pledge money were called to the front of the gym where they were able to select an item from a table full of donated articles. Austin stated that through the generosity of local organizations and businesses, he is able, each year to award each participant something for their fund-raising effort as well as bestow a brand new girls and boys bicycle to two lucky students. Students who raised $50 or more have their names entered into the bicycle drawing.
Austin recognized the Caribou Parent Teacher Association, the Power of Prevention group and Walmart for donating money and items for this year’s program.
Winners of the new bicycles were third-grader Willow Whitten and Darren Hall, a grade four student.
Twin sisters, Olivia and Emily Austin were tied in their fund-raising results with both raising $329.50, were awarded second and third-place winners, placing Jackson and Huntress at their mercy as they approached with the shears, intent on giving them their “summer haircuts.”
Achieving first place, raising $336 for the American Heart Association was Matthew Whitten, who eagerly waited to give his physical education teacher a new look.
Classrooms which raised the most pledge money collectively were, in second place, Mrs. Hopkins with $1,135 and in first place with $1,397, Mrs. Howes’ class.
Austin stated, “This is a very positive program and the end results show the students what can happen when everyone works together.”
