Students prove ‘Walking Works’

Eastside Elementary has gone the extra mile ‘ again.

For the second year, the school has been named an Extra Mile School by the BlueCross WalkingWorks for Schools program.

When Eastside students begin the program Monday, their goal will be to log 10 minutes a day of walking this year. Those who participate and succeed in adding 10 minutes a day for 24 weeks will earn a program incentive, a free pedometer.

Last school year, 17 teachers and their students enrolled in the program aimed at improving children’s health by encouraging physical activity during the school day with a simple activity ‘ walking.

For the fall and spring semesters, classes walked an extra 7.5 minutes a day, not including recess and PE. While walking, one student must wear a pedometer and the time and distance will be kept on a walking log.

Doing more than what was required, Eastside walked eight minutes a day. By the end of the year, students added 15,465 minutes of additional exercise which equals 762 miles ‘ or roughly the distance from McMinnville to Orlando, Fla.

‘They did really well,’ said Eastside nurse Terri Bryan. ‘I’m really impressed by how our school did. The children loved it. They began asking me when they were going to get to walk this year right after school began.’

For its efforts, Eastside was awarded an Extra Mile School banner to recognize their ‘above-and-beyond’ participation in BlueCross BlueShield WalkingWorks for Schools and is listed on the Extra Mile School Honor Roll on the program’s Web site. All participants received a WalkingWorks wristband.

Other local schools interested in this program can register or get more information from its Web site: www.WalkingWorksForSchoolsTN.com.