Elementary school kicks off Jump Rope for Heart

GUILFORD — Students in kindergarten through grade 6 are starting spring with lots of jumping as Piscataquis Community Elementary School (PCES) kicks off the annual Jump Rope for Heart initiative. The program began with a full school assembly on March 17, and ends with an entire day of jump roping, hula hooping, and other health-related activities on April 7. Jump Rope for Heart encourages cooperative activity and community service by integrating critical thinking skills with physical activity and fun.
Jump Rope for Heart is a national program jointly sponsored by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and and the American Heart Association. In addition to healthful activities, students collect donations for the American Heart Association — the pupils are not allowed to solicit door-to-door, so family and friends should contact students they know to donate. Community volunteers and the H.U.G.S. parent group assist with the program.
This is PCES’s ninth year participating in the national campaign and the staff and students have raised nearly $27,000 since starting. “We focus on the exercise and health benefits,” said Wendy Viera, school nurse. “But the students enjoy raising money to help others as well. It’s one of the kids’ favorite activities every year because it’s active and purposeful and we always enjoy a great success.”