Groveland Elementary students get moving
Groveland Elementary Students get moving
Groveland Elementary Students get moving
MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Teachers know when kids don't get recess, they grow restless, and concentration can go out the window.
That's not a problem at Groveland Elementary in Minnetonka where students run, play, jump and climb before, during and after school.
"Fitness has become a big deal for us because we started a couple of years ago with this idea that fitness would increase student learning," said Principal David Parker.
Recent studies back that up.
This past spring, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention went on record saying physical activity, such as the kind found in physical education classes and recess, can improve academic performance.
At Groveland, staff try to build in physical activity whenever possible.
"When we build math or reading goals in our classrooms, we integrate those in the gym," said Parker.
"We also integrate it outside in our playgrounds and Kid Power."
Kid Power is an unusual playground that Parker likens to a video game come to life. Kids have different play stations that power up only by some sort of physical activity connected to it.
Groveland was able to purchase the equipment through a grant from the Hennepin County Sports Commission.
Perhaps the most visible of Groveland's efforts to get kids moving is the most low-tech one. A track.
Before school, students in the Groveland Running Club run and walk laps.
Run enough laps, and you get a prize, of sorts.
"They give out tokens," said 3rd grader Sophia Gambiana. "They give you a chain for a necklace or a bracelet."
Students can string those tokens on their chains for bragging rights, and a visual reminder of just how far they've come.
"They have to work pretty hard to geet these, and that's from kindergarten through 5th grade, so I mean, that's a pretty big deal for these kids," said Janelle Arndt, a parent organizer for the club.
While many schools have running clubs, Groveland is working to integrate its club with the surrounding community.
Iin addition to students running, parents and siblings can also take part.
"I can look out there some days and I'll see 85, 100 people walking that track at 8 o'clock, and 8:15," said Parker. "I see moms and dads and neighbors."
Saturday, October 9th, Groveland students and families will go off-track, and into the surrounding neighborhood with the first annual TonkaTrot, a 5K and 1.5K fun run.
The idea is to get adults and kids excited about exercise, and help out the school. Money raised will be used by teachers to purchase classroom supplies.
Same day registration starts at 7:30 a.m. with the races beginning at 8:30 a.m. A "backyard party" with inflatables and music follows.
Principal Parker believes if exercise is a regular part of community, family and school life, everyone benefits.
"It absolutely elevates kids' motivation, energy levels," said Parker.
"We know that movement helps transition and (helps kids) reset themselves to the next lesson, throughout and eight hour school day, and so I'm a real believer."
(Copyright 2010 by KARE. All rights reserved.)