Elementary Students Jump For A Good Cause

By Jeff White

Townwide elementary schoolers got to show off their rope jumping skills March 8 during the American Heart Association’s annual Jump Rope for Heart event. For double-dutchers and single skippers, the afternoon provided the perfect end for many gym classes’ rope jumping units.

Prior to March 8, students on their own time obtained donations from families and friends. But Laura Cooper, the physical education teacher at Middle Gate School, said this week that she focused her students on the physical benefits of jumping rope, not raising money. “I told the kids that I want them to come in and jump for exercise.”

 Middle Gate’s Jump Rope for Heart event lasted two days and involved over 100 students throughout third, fourth and fifth grades. When all was said and done, over $4,000 was raised for heart disease and stroke research. This was the school’s fourth year participating in the fund-raiser.

Sandy Hook Elementary, which has the highest student population of any Newtown elementary school, balanced 150 participants during one day of rope jumping. And for the third consecutive year, the school managed to raise a considerable amount of money. Although the totals have not been finalized, as of this week Sandy Hook raised over $5,000 during Jump Rope for Heart.

“It’s great that [students] get excited about something that helps others,” commented Doug Micholovitz, Hawley School’s physical education teacher. It was the first year that the school participated in the event, and although Mr Micholovitz only had a turnout of 25 students (the event was limited to the fourth grade), the school still raised $1,300.

“It’s a very healthy way of helping,” Mr Micholovitz said. “They’re helping to fight heart disease, and learning that jumping rope is good for their hearts.”

Head O’ Meadow School has long been the veteran of the Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser. Rope jumping is part of the school’s culture, and this year proved no exception. Over 100 students participated and helped raise almost $5,000.

Besides playing a variety of games, like relay races and consecutive jump contests, there were snacks available and music provided the perfect beat to jump to.

According to Deb Goodman, a worker from the American Heart Association who oversees the Jump Rope for Heart program in Newtown, the event involved about 30,000 schools across the country this year. She pointed out that this was the first year that every elementary school in Newtown participated.

For most of these gym classes, Jump Rope for Heart was the culmination of a month-long rope jumping unit, when students were taught the basics of double-dutch, long rope, and Chinese rope jumping. Then, they got the chance to put these skills to the test, and for a good cause.