Maple East
Students have 'Fun with Fitness'
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

Maple East School social worker and wellness facilitator Kathy Schiumo helps along a student during a cardio relay in her "Fun with Fitness" program.

Children today have instant entertainment at their disposal with television, the Internet and an endless number of video games. And oftentimes, good old-fashioned exercise just doesn't fit in with all of those distractions.

At Maple East Elementary, school social worker and wellness facilitator Kathy Schiumo is working to get her students active.

What she has conceived is an after-school program called "Fun with Fitness." The program teaches students in kindergarten through second grade about exercising and eating healthy foods.

"There are intramurals for third- and fourth-graders but there was nothing for K through 2," she said. "Our goal is to teach them to have healthy muscles through exercise."

Schiumo has four rotations of students throughout the year with approximately 18 students in each rotation.

The group concentrates on cardio work and teamwork with relays - involving running and jumping jacks - that focus on deep breathing.

"We encourage teamwork with high fives and cheering for each other," Schiumo said.

The sessions are ended with a stretching period where Schiumo talks to the students about their heart rates and what habits they can have at home to be healthier.

The group has also participated in the annual Jog-A-Thon to benefit the Variety Club Telethon.

"They all participated," Schiumo said, noting that the young students jogged for half an hour - no easy feat for children so young.

Schiumo hopes that the program, which is partially funded by the Maple East Elementary Parent Teacher Association, will expand to include more sessions but with the same age group.