Hawley Students

‘Jump Rope For Heart’

By Eliza Hallabeck

Hawley Elementary School physical education teacher Doug Michlovitz grabbed a microphone on Wednesday, January 19, and along with physical education teacher Bridget McSweeney, helped students jump rope.

The event marked the start of a yearly fundraiser at the school called “Jump Rope For Heart.” Mr Michlovitz said each school in the district participates in the program. At Hawley students have raised between $1,000 and $4,600 in the past to be donated to the American Heart Association.

Students, Ms Michlovitz said, raised money by asking parents and other adults to donate money if the student promises to jump rope at the school. The students are not obligated to jump a certain number of jumps, but, instead, spend physical education periods jumping rope both backward and forward.

To prepare students to raise money, Mr Michlovitz said the school shared a video about heart disease and other heart-related issues. Everyone, he said, knows someone with a heart-related illness.

“They are kind of jumping for them,” said Mr Michlovitz, regarding people students may know with a heart-related illness. “That is what we try to emphasize: by jumping, they are helping to cure heart disease.”

Along with teaching students to be physically active, Mr Michlovitz said, the program also teaches students to be aware of others.

Second grader Jillian Reilly was one of many students in the school’s gymnasium last Wednesday, and said she raised money for the program thanks to her mother.

“It’s fun,” said Jillina, “and it helps people that have heart problems.”

When approaching her mother to ask her to participate, Jillian said she told her that it was something she should do. Her mother responded by helping Jillian.

“And so that’s how she raised the money,” said Jillian.  

Fellow second grader Thomas Tavar said he thought the program was “pretty cool.”

Anyone who missed donating through the Jump Rope For Heart program, according to Mr Michlovitz, can learn more information about the American Heart Association at www.americanheart.org.