Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart - School District 68

every year. Said Teacher Kristin Verhoeven, “The students are eagerand excited to be part of this event. For an hour after lunch,the whole school is invited to the gym to watch participants fromGrades 4 to 7 shoot basketball hoops. Each participant gets oneminute to see how many baskets they can make. The gym is anoisy, excited place for this hour. Shooting hoops is a fun way toraise awareness about healthy living choices and to promote theeducational work of the Heart and Stroke Foundation.”The story is much the same from school to school – pride inthe amount of money each school has raised over the years andtalk of the tradition the events have become at each school.Heart and Stroke Foundation Schools Program CoordinatorJaime Spyksma said that the programs are especially importantwhen you consider the fact that childhood obesity has tripled overthe past 25 years. “This is the first generation that might not outlivetheir parents. With our Jump and Hoops programs, the studentshave fun by being active and learning about healthy choicesin their lives such as eating good food and not smoking. If we canteach the kids at an early age to make good lifestyle choices andthey continue those habits as they grow up, then we are investingin our future toward generations free of heart disease and stroke.”She gives special credit to the teachers and principals whoorganize the program in each school. “They are enthusiastic andexcited about getting the students involved in activity and hearthealthy decisions,” she said. “We can’t do it without them.” &