Jump rope for heart

Eight Kyrene School District schools in Ahwatukee Foothills celebrated Valentine’s Day Feb. 13-15 by jumping rope in P.E. class for the American Heart Association.

Students at Colina, Cerritos, Esperanza, Estrella, Lagos, Lomas, Monte Vista and Sierra elementary schools participated in Jump Rope for Heart, a national educational fundraising program sponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

In Jump Rope for Heart, students jump rope while raising funds to support heart and stroke research. The program is meant to teach students they can contribute to the community’s welfare.

“It’s a good correlation for the kids to be thinking about hearts,” Monte Vista physical education teacher Monika Kennedy said. “Most of them really, really like it.”

At Monte Vista, kindergarten through fifth-graders raised funds all week and topped off their achievements by jumping rope Wednesday through Friday. Kennedy set up six jumping stations and played music while students rotated through the stations during P.E. class.

“The way we have the stations set up, there’s something for everybody to do,” Kennedy said.

Stations involved short ropes, long ropes, jumping activities and mini trampolines.

“I talk to them more about what happens to our heart after we exercise and why it’s beneficial,” Kennedy said.

In the past, Kyrene has participated in Jump Rope for Heart as a district after-school event; however, schools now participate individually during P.E.

“The cool thing now is that every child gets to participate, not just the ones available after school,” Kennedy said.

For more information, visit www.AmericanHeart.org/jump.