Classes start the day with calisthenics, martial arts or the chicken fat dance.

Classes start the day with calisthenics, martial arts or the chicken fat dance.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
NORTH JACKSON -- Jumping jacks done in a flash kick-start kids' days, keeping them healthy and ready to learn.
"Research shows that exercising first thing in the morning reduces trips to the school nurse and the need for discipline," said Kirk Baker, principal of Jackson-Milton Elementary School.
A schoolwide exercise program incorporated into the curriculum at the start of this school year already has made a difference, he said.
Fewer pupils have been tardy for school this year than last "because they have fun exercising and they don't want to miss that. If they miss the exercise, then they are tardy," Baker said.
Although referrals to the school nurse and referrals to the principal for discipline are comparable to those in years past this far into the school year, Baker said he expects to see improvement in those areas.
"Kids are always good at the beginning of the school year," he chuckled.
Different activities
Each day is different, with some classes, for kindergartners through fifth-graders, starting the day outdoors walking. Others do calisthenics, martial arts or the chicken fat dance.
The chicken fat dance, Baker explained, is a routine where participants dance around flapping their arms like wings.
"We did jumping jacks," said Erin McCorkle, a second-grader.
"We listened to music and did them real fast. It was fun!" squealed Erin's classmate, Aurora Schaefer.
"We didn't do the music yesterday. We touched our toes and it wasn't as much fun," Erin explained.
Wanting more
"I wish we could do it all day," said 7-year-old Kyle Gay, who was still bouncing up and down.
Aren't you tired from all those jumping jacks?
"Nope," the little boy replied.
"I am," said another classmate, Paige Pyles.
"That's another good thing; after they exercise, the kids settle down and get right to work," Baker observed.
Groundwork for the program started this summer when Jackson-Milton Elementary received a grant for the school nurse and a core group of teachers to attend a conference with representatives from about 85 schools throughout Ohio, Baker said.
That core group devised a plan to incorporate exercise into pupils' daily routines.
The grant also provided a library of videos and CDs for use in the classrooms so the children's workouts change a little every day. Teachers and administrators also participate in the activities, Baker said.
"Our goal is to promote lifelong healthy habits, and this has worked out better than we ever thought."
Some 380 children attend Jackson-Milton Elementary.
kubik@vindy.com