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Program gets kids walking at school
Students can earn
prizes for being active through South Dakota Schools Walk! The
2006-07 school year marks the fourth year the program has been
promoted by Coordinated School Health, a joint
program of the South Dakota Departments of Education and Health.
South Dakota Schools
Walk aims to fight childhood obesity by motivating young people
to increase their level of physical activity – specifically, by
walking. Students might walk before school, after school or
during recess. They might rack up miles “walking” to a
particular country they are studying. They might walk with local
celebrities such as the mayor or a radio show host. The
possibilities are endless!
“With 33 percent of
our school-age children overweight or at risk for being
overweight, obesity is an issue in South Dakota,” said Kari
Senger, co-director of the Coordinated School Health Program.
“South Dakota Schools Walk is one way to encourage students, and
to model for them how to incorporate this healthy habit into
their daily lives.”
This year, South
Dakota Schools Walk will focus on K-6 students. Any teacher in
grades K-6 can register their class to participate in a walking
program. Each school sets its own guidelines for a program. Coordinated School
Health provides incentives for those youngsters who participate.
Students in grades K-2 will receive wrist bands, while those in
grades 3-6 will receive water bottles. For taking the initiative
to sign up their class, teachers will receive a gift to use in
the classroom.
Incentives are provided
through a partnership between the Coordinated School Health
Program in the Departments of Education and Health, Department
of Health Maternal Child Health Program and Healthy South
Dakota.
Registration for this program will be available after Sept.
1, 2006, at
http://www.doe.sd.gov/oess/schoolhealth/sdwalks/.
Incentives are available while supplies last.
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