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Market Street school, Y set up fitness program
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
BOARDMAN
Market Street Elementary School and the Central YMCA are teaming up to offer a fitness program to third- and fourth-graders at the school.
The Turbo Fitness program will be paid through a $20,000 donation from the United Way, James Stitt, Market Street principal, told the board of education Monday.
“I think it’s going to be an excellent opportunity this year for Market Street, and our goal down the road is to get all Boardman elementary [schools] in it,” Stitt said.
The program is geared toward all children, not just those with a weight problem, said Beth Murray, youth-outreach director at the Central YMCA in downtown Youngstown.
Children would commit to a minimum of three days of fitness participation, she told the board members, but will have the opportunity to choose four days of activity.
After school, on two of the days, participating children will be bused to and from the Central Y on the Y’s bus. A Boardman school bus will then take them home.
The other two days of fitness activity will take place at the school. Each day includes about two hours of exercise.
At the Y, children will be introduced to activities such as Pilates, yoga, spinning and water games.
“Trying to target different things that would appeal to different kids, so it’s not just soccer or baseball or something like that,” Murray said.
Akron Children’s Hospital has been tapped to provide a certified nutritionist.
A 10-week session will be offered in the fall; another is planned in the spring.
There is no cost for participation.