Kids exercise book smarts, body smarts

March 10, 2008 at 12:48a.m.

Students will perform the exercises during their homeroom period.

BOARDMAN — Few dispute the value of school textbooks, but as exercise tools?

Several eighth-graders at Center Middle School used their literature and English books as weights as they performed squats, calf raises, chest presses and upright rows for an exercise video their fellow students will watch and follow during homeroom.

It’s part of the school district’s health and wellness policy, said Laura Hancock, Center’s guidance counselor.

One goal of the policy is emphasizing the importance of physical activity.

Each video is just a few minutes long.

“Our principal here is open to all sorts of ideas,” Hancock said. “The only thing he asked is he didn’t want adults to be teaching the exercises in the videos.”

He wanted students to learn from other students.

This marks the second video this year. The first was led by the school’s cheerleaders.

“Books in front of your chest, feet shoulder-width apart,” instructed Linda Modic, a fitness instructor at the D.D. Velma Davis Family YMCA. She will be off-camera in the video.

The YMCA is helping the school with the wellness effort.

Modic taught the moves to the students and led them through the routine.

First up were eighth-graders John Dillon, Annika Bunevich, Kiyan Taghaboni and Megan Tepper who moved through the rock classic “Wild Thing.”

Videos were shot at the television studio at the school.

After a few takes where the students ensured they were in synch, it was a wrap.

Nicole Johnston, Kelsey White, Aaron Whipple and Chris Ocasio, all eighth-graders, were up next as Modic led the group through a series of strength moves with “Rescue Me” playing in the background.

Sweat beads formed around Chris’s face after two run-throughs of the program in front of the hot studio lights.

“Yeah, I’m sweating,” he said.

Aaron, however, says he doesn’t sweat.

“I’m glistening,” he chuckled.

Kelsey said she and her fellow exercisers submitted applications to be selected for the videos.

Last week’s taping marked the second time the four students had executed the routine together and Nicole said that although she “felt” the moves, they weren’t difficult.

Some of Modic’s classes at the Y are tailored for children, so when the facility agreed to participate in the school program, Tom Grantonic, Family Y branch director, asked her to help.

“I think they did great,” Modic said of the students.

Larry Jensen, fitness director at the Y, noted that the kids seemed to enjoy it, too.

“That’s so important,” Modic said. “If they think it’s something boring then they won’t do it.”