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Robinwood students jump for a good cause
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Robinwood gym teacher Jen Flores (far right) helped her gym class of kindergartners explore the Jump Rope for Heart activity areas. With the long rope, she helped Samantha Moon (left) swing the rope while Anthony Gria (center) attempted some jumps, with Alex Micco watching nearby.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .During the Jump Rope for Heart event at Robinwood Lane Elementary on Feb. 15, kindergartner Jordan Reynolds took a jump into the hop scotch area with zest.
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After jumping for their health for an entire gym period, the Robinwood kindergartners were given a snack of goldfish snacks and water. Bing-Bing Yang (left) and Camryn Duntza enjoyed their snacks together after catching their breaths.
By SARAH FOOR
The students at Robinwood jumped for joy, and their health, during the school’s activities for the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart Feb. 14-16.
Led by Robinwood gym teacher Jen Flores, each grade’s gym classes during the week were transformed into a jumping extravaganzas, with games of hop scotch, hurdles and traditional short and double-dutch length jump ropes available to the students.
All the physical activity was only half of the hard work, however.
“Robinwood has done so much hard work for Jump Rope for Heart these last few weeks,” shared Flores on the last day of the program, Feb. 16. “Our art teacher, Susan Farkas, helped the students with all the heart decorations around the school. On top of that, all of the classrooms have been fundraising for the American Heart Association, and we’ve raised $4,000 so far.”
Flores provided incentives for the students, including a membership in the Heart Hero Club to a student raising $50 or more, and a pizza party to the classroom with the most money raised.
The gym class where the students actually jumped for their hearts was a fun reward for the great work.
“Jumping is actually quite hard at any age,” said Flores of the week’s activity. “But it’s wonderful for the heart, and fun, too.”
Flores had a similar message for Jennifer DeNiro’s kindergartners after they hopped, hurdled and jumped for a half hour on Feb. 16.
“Feel your hearts, are they beating fast?” she asked them.
Her students said yes.
“They should be! Because we just jump-roped for our hearts, and the hearts of many others. Great job,” replied Flores.