Students at McAuliffe Middle School got a little extra lesson in fitness during the school’s second annual Fit-a-Thon on Friday.
Students at McAuliffe Middle School got a little extra lesson in fitness during the school’s second annual Fit-a-Thon on Friday.
The event brought in some additional fitness help from staff members at 24 Hour Fitness and soldiers from the Joint Forces Training Base, who spent the day running students through four fitness stations during PE class times.
In all, about 1,200 students went through the drills, while also seeking out donations to raise money to help the school. The event was organized by the McAuliffe PTA. Michele Bowers chaired the organizing committee. Shelly Knapp coordinated with the JFTB to arrange for soldiers to bring military trucks and supplies that were used in various drills. The military instructors not only push the students, but also add an element of fun the physical training.
“The kids really respond well to them,” PTA President Gloria Galitsky said.
The four stations included a jogging test, Boot Camp (physical training), relay race and an obstacle course. At the jogging test, students could choose to run a half-mile race for prizes, or do the march/jog test with a soldier.
The obstacle course had a crawl under a camouflage net and tire run, mixed in with an egg race and Frisbee throw. The relay race involved pulling military gear on before running. The money raised at this year’s event was earmarked for computers and class furniture. Last year the money helped pay for the school’s new marquee.
Donations are still being accepted through this week. For more information about the event, call Michele Bowers at 562-537-6832.