A Challenge Becomes a Success
Submitted by:  Deborah Yargar-Reed
Biglerville Elementary School, Biglerville, PA

Even though I have been organizing Jump Rope For Heart events for 11 years in my District, I felt this year would be a bigger challenge than ever. Until this year, I taught at a K-6 school, and the older students participated in large numbers. I now teach students in Kindergarten through third grade only, and I wasn’t sure if the young students and their parents would commit themselves to gathering pledges for the event. My challenge turned out to be a great success.

During the week of February 4-11, 2008, the students at Biglerville Elementary Jump Roped For Heart during their Physical Education classes.

Besides having the student’s jump rope with regular short ropes as we have done in the past, I set up stations for the students:

Short ropes, hula hoops (students turn and use like a jump rope), swing–n-hop, jumping wand, pogo stick, long rope, tilt walker, moonhopper, and Chinese jump ropes.

The Kindergarten students used the jump ropes to make various shapes and numbers as well as try to jump.  The students were encouraged to participate at each station, so everyone could become a more successful jumper. 

The students are encouraged to participate in the jump event at our school in order to help others.  This is a way for our students to gain responsibility and realize how important it is to help others through their participation in our event.  The students know they can make a difference.

With the combined efforts of the 112 students who participated in the Jump event the students raised $4,548.00   Musselman’s (a division of Knouse Foods Inc. Biglerville, PA) donated apple juice for the students.  A contest also took place between classrooms within the school. 

The class raising the most donations would be treated to a healthy lunch party pack from a local Subway shop.  I am very pleased our event went well thanks to the students who participated and all who made a donation toward our event.  We have proudly hung our new Jump banner in the gymnasium. 

The students are very proud to walk into the room and comment on how they participated in our school event and have a new colorful banner to hang in our gymnasium.