Physical education: It’s as much of a sprint as a marathon

Feb. 21, 2012 - Students at Barnard and Marshall elementary schools, get active with the help of some athletes

Washington Capitals at Marshall Elementary School

Previous | Next

Throughout the day, elementary school students are full of energy, like little race cars revving their engines and ready to go. Last Wednesday, students at two DCPS schools got a chance to blow off some steam with some celebrity athletes cheering them on.

In the morning, more than 400 Barnard ES students pumped their arms and legs, zipped around the school’s athletic field, and released some of that youthful energy on route to completing their first marathon as part of ING’s KiDS ROCK program in partnership with the first-ever SunTrust Rock ’n’ Roll USA Marathon and the CareFirst Rock ’n’ Roll USA Half Marathon.

And later that day, students at Marshall ES grabbed hockey sticks, strapped on padding and mixed it up with two hockey players from the Washington Capitals during an assembly that celebrated a successful partnership with the school and introduced students to a new sport.

“When you have a fit student in the classroom, you have a student ready to learn,” said Barnard Principal Grace Reid. “You have to wake up the brain and say, ‘Let’s get ready to learn.’”

Over the next four weeks, students at Barnard in Ward 4 will run and jog their way to a 25-mile cumulative goal. Then, on March 16 they will complete the remaining 1.2 miles of the marathon together at a Final Mile Finale at Kenilworth Park.

During the course of the four weeks, students can get coaching from Barnard teachers, family members or friends. But on Feb. 15, 2012, they had some star power support.

In a morning assembly, veteran sports broadcaster and health advocate Bonnie Bernstein joined 1983 New York City Marathon champion and 1972 Olympics bronze medalist Rod Dixon to get students and staff enthused about fitness and running, before leading them outside for a jog.

“We are excited here at Barnard because we are honored to kick off KiD’S ROCK from Barnard,” said Principal Reid, noting that her students regularly participate in physical activity as part of the school’s culture.

“Even before the White House started the Let’s Move! initiative, Barnard was moving,” she added. “As a community, we believe every child has a right to a healthy life.”

Malain McCormick, event director for the SunTrust Rock ’n’ Roll USA Marathon, said the marathon events make fitness fun and instill a love of running among children in kindergarten through seventh grade.

“Running is one of the least expensive forms of exercise that you can do,” McCormick said. “We want to give [students] the tools they need to help set goals and accomplish them, and that extends to other parts of their lives.”

At Marshall Elementary School, Capitals forward Joel Ward and defenseman Roman Hamrlik showed students how to handle a hockey stick, slap a puck and score a goal.

“It’s all about having a good time and Ward and me had a good time. Hopefully, the kids had a good time, too,” Hamrlik said.

“The kids loved it,” Ward said. “It gives both of us a chance to give back to the community and introduce [Marshall ES students] to a different game and see their faces light up.”

The Capitals adopt a different DCPS school every year and invest time and money into each school they visit. In the past, the professional hockey team has adopted King and Powell elementary schools. This year, Marshall ES is on the roster and reaping the benefits of a strong relationship.

In addition to participating in volunteer efforts such as Beautification Day, the Capitals have donated about $10,000 to the Ward 5 school, which purchased an interactive whiteboard, a fluency center and books on CD for every grade level. The team even adopted a needy family during the winter holidays and bought them bedroom and living room furniture.

“For us, it’s a way of getting the guys out in the community. They play hockey and they’re trying to grow the sport,” said Elizabeth Wodatch, director of community relations for the Washington Capitals. “The players know how fortunate they are and are really generous in giving back.”

Bernard Nedab, physical education teacher at Marshall, said the visit gave students another chance to participate in a healthy activity and perhaps a first chance at learning a sport they’ve never played.

“There is a lot of stuff you can do through sports,” Nedab said. “I look at it as hockey is big in college and this is a great beginning. That will be the goal if we can get them started on that. Another educated youngster means another shot at a scholarship.”

Inside DCPS Highlights.