By Cyndi Goodrich
Moapa Valley Progress
It Takes Heart To Be A Hero. This is the theme for the 2011 Jump Rope for Heart program participated in by Bowler Elementary students on Friday, February 11.
The program was started by the American Heart Association to promote healthy living and lives free from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. What set this apart from a regular Physical Education day is that donations are collected to help kids who have “special” hearts. And what used to take place after school hours now took place during the school day.
It was coordinated by the P.E. teacher, Denise Hoy and her aide, Amy Kesl who were ready for the Bowler students. All students went to P.E. instead of their usual special class for the day. So instead of art or music or library, everyone had P.E.
Outside at different area were sets of Jump Ropes, Hula Hoops, and Balls. With music playing the kids rotated from station to station. The children were active and enjoying themselves too.
It was also fun to see the teachers who did not have the students rotate to their classrooms outside participating with the kids. School Librarian, Bryce Hardy, was doing a lot of Hula Hooping and Art Teacher, Clint Brill, played basketball with the students. Mrs. Wheeler, the library aide, organized jump rope races and games.
Another change was that this year donations could be made online. Parents could set up a webpage and then send out an e-mail to friends and family letting them know about the program.
“I love that kids could help raise money and not go door to door,” said one parent.
“I sent the e-mail out and had tons of family, who live back east, make donations,” said Teresa Holzer, a mother of two students at Bowler. “My girls raised about $170 each.”
At the end of the hour, the students got some refreshments, ice cold water and a granola bar, served by PTO volunteers.
