How To Get A School To Get Up And Move

Oskaloosa Cheerleaders lead the assembly in a few cheers to help get kids moving.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – How do you get an elementary school to get up and move? You add a bit of excitement provided by an assembly. Stir in a bit of music and before long, you have a gym full of moving kids.

Live Healthy Iowa selected Oskaloosa as the launch location among 300 other schools. The Oskaloosa Elementary School is the largest elementary school in the state of Iowa.

Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt was joined by many high school and William Penn athletic teams as they joined together along with the elementary students in the dance routines and walking exercises. “We appreciate you guys being able to set the example for the rest of us,” Krutzfeldt said to the gathered elementary students.
Krutzfeldt talked about the 25 mile club at the elementary school. He talked about how the club originally started in 2006 and how there were only 3 students in the club that first year.

A student would have to run 8 laps in the gym in a 5 minute time period. 363 laps over the entire school year. In 2008 there were 21 students that were part of the 25 mile club. By 2011 there were 67 and last year were 85 students who were part of the club.

“That was something that really impressed me,” Krutzfeldt said.

Lisa Weber with Live Healthy Iowa explained that Oskaloosa was chosen as the location for the launch by random drawing. Nearly 400 schools state wide participated in Fall Fitness Day.

Weber explained that the purpose of Fall Fitness day is to get kids more active. “Our requirements are that kids get an additional 30 minutes that day. The whole purpose behind it is we want healthier kids eating healthier, drinking better beverages and then also having that energy to be active.”