Several Hallett Elementary students stretch their muscles before their workout.
Ever wanted to run through the hallways of an elementary school without getting into trouble?
A group of students participating in Hallett Elementary's Fit For Bloomsday after-school program got to experience that during one of their early spring workouts.
Because of weather conditions and soccer practicing in the gym, Cheryl Spilker, a fifth-grade teacher and one of the two coaches for Hallett's program along with counselor Tami Earthman, chose to have the students run laps, two-tenths of a mile in distance, around the building.
"When it's sunny outside we'll have our students run half-mile laps around the school grounds," Spilker said.
Spilker said 54 students, comprised of second, third, fourth and fifth-graders, came out for this year's program. There are also students on a waiting list in case someone drops out.
"It's a very popular program," Spilker said.
According to its website, Fit for Bloomsday - short for Fit For Bloomsday ... Fit For Life - is a training program for elementary school students.
Developed by Bloomsday volunteers in cooperation with physical education teachers, coaches and parents in Spokane County, the program helps prepare students to walk or run Bloomsday, as well as educating them on the importance of fitness, nutrition, health and safety.
The Lilac Bloomsday Association provides each school with information and materials for the program. Hallett is one of several elementary schools in the West Plains, along with Betz, Salnave and Snowden in Cheney and Michael Anderson in Medical Lake, participating in the program.
During the first week of the program, students set goals and keep track of their progress in their mileage journals. Some students set their goal as high as 50 miles. Spilker added that many students will finish the FFBD and try out for Hallett's track program in May.
Courtney Hasse, who is in her first year of teaching kindergarten at Hallett, is one of the parent and teacher volunteers who help coach students and encourages them during workouts. Hasse became a volunteer because she missed coaching and wanted to get to know the older students.
"It's awesome, it's such a powerful opportunity to have fun at school outside of the classroom and it shows kids how working out can be fun," Hasse said. "Kids want to come up and tell you how many miles they ran. Hopefully this inspires them to run and workout for the rest of their lives."
In addition to helping students prepare for Bloomsday and keeping them active, Earthman said "Fit for Bloomsday" brings them together to build a small running community.
"It also helps them bring out all kinds of character qualities," Earthman said.
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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