|
|
Andrew HS News
Project: Break a sweat
Students get active together with Project: ACES program at Andrew
|
May 09, 2011 | 06:54 AM
Exercising generally comes with the territory of physical education in high school, but thanks to Project ACES, students around the nation, including those at Andrew High School, had a heightened sense of camaraderie as they broke a sweat last week.
Andrew participated in Project ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously), an nationwide initiative launched by New Jersey physical education teacher Len Saunders in 1989, for the first time this year. Students in every physical education and health class, at every grade level, hit the football field throughout the day Wednesday, May 4, to try some new exercise techniques, courtesy of LA Boxing and Cross-fit Training.
"This is actually our first year doing it," said Jennifer Doede, division chair for physical education, health and drivers education at Andrew. "It's really to get kids more excited about exercising."
The first week of May is designated as Physical Education and Sport Week. In addition to getting students excited about exercise, fighting obesity is a stated goal of the program. The two local businesses helped do just that with aerobic workout stations set up across the stadium football field.
Students rotated from station to station, going from strength training with medicine balls and resistance bands, to punching and kicking with pads, to activities like shuttle runs, leap frog and piggyback rides with partners. The workout was structured to let the students hit each station during the 30-minute program.
"We're essentially hitting every kid, which is really cool," Doede said. "Bringing in the trainers helps because they're hearing it from a different source."
Another focus of the program was to present exercises that the students would not only find fun, but relatively simple to perform outside of school, without the need for expensive equipment. Despite the hard work and chilly weather, most students said they were having a good time, with many of the activities requiring partners.
"The kids had a lot of fun," Doede said.
| |
|
|
| |
| | |
