State Secretary of Health Calvin B. Johnson takes a walk with students from D. Ferd Swaney Elementary School in recognition of the district’s exercise program. Each day, students take a 10-minute walk. In certain classrooms, students enjoy 10 minutes of active learning and academics. Dave Rafferty/Herald-Standard

State Secretary of Health Dr. Calvin B. Johnson visited D. Ferd Swaney Elementary School Tuesday as he kicked off his statewide tour during Public Health Week 2006.

Johnson recognized the school in the Albert Gallatin Area School District for its implementation of the "Take 10" exercise program. Each day, students take a 10-minute walk and, in certain classrooms, students enjoy 10 minutes of active learning and academics.

In Jody Voithofer's second-grade classroom on Tuesday, students jumped, stretched, and reached for the sky, while shouting out answers to math multiplication problems.

"Five times two is 10," said the 15 students in unison. "Two, four, six, eight, 10," they counted out, touching their head, shoulders, hips and knees.

"What do we want everyone to know?" Voithofer asked the class after they finished exercising.

"I'm no fool. Exercise is the rule," proclaimed the students.

"You've done something really cool," Johnson told the class, "You're no fool, exercise is the rule.

"You were taught good lessons: math and that exercise can give you a healthy body and a healthy mind," he said.

And students with a healthy body and mind tend to do better in school, he said.

"And, this school is an example of how you can do it easily," added Johnson. "It doesn't take a lot of time or effort, just 10 minutes. And, this school is a perfect example of that."

Prior to visiting Voithofer's class, Johnson stopped by teacher Marcia Pukl's fourth-grade room to observe students combining exercising and learning.

As a final activity, every student, teacher and guest joined for a midmorning walk, circling single file through the halls to the beat of music filtering from the loud speakers.

Students, faculty and staff began the 10-minute walk earlier this semester after Physical Education Instructor Regina Blosnich initiated the idea.

Voithofer said students in her class are not as restless after doing a few exercises, while the students love every minute of it.

Students said they enjoy the physical activities because it makes them feel better. They also said they will continue to exercise when they grow up.

This shows that school Principal Carol Ryan, her faculty and staff are achieving their goal: to teach children lifelong, healthy habits that they will carry into adulthood.

Along with Johnson and Ryan, school district Superintendent Walter Vicinelly also joined students in the 10-minute walk.

Vicinelly said he is very proud of the students and staff at the school who are making others aware of the importance of wellness.

"Whenever I see youngsters exercise, it makes me want to exercise more," said Vicinelly. "They are excellent models."

Program coordinators with Steps to a HealthierPA-Fayette County, an organization with the goal to promote healthy change in Fayette County residents, also joined in the fun.

Steps to a HealthierPA-Fayette County, a local committee endorsed by the state and operating on a federal grant, has been working with the school districts to bring physical activity and healthy food choices into the schools.

The state Department of Health selected Fayette County for the federal grant because the county has significantly higher health concerns related to obesity, asthma and diabetes versus other areas in the state. Fayette County was one of three counties to receive a grant in 2004. The program is a joint effort of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center and the Fayette County Community Health Improvement Partnership.

Although physical activity takes place in other schools in the Albert Gallatin Area School District, the faculty, staff and students of D. Ferd Swaney decided to take on those steps to promote a healthy lifestyle early, said Ben Neil, school health coordinator with Steps to a HealthierPA.

As a result, the school is now upheld as model for other schools without a similar exercise program.

Ryan said it is a good feeling knowing that Albert Gallatin is upheld as a model school. It brings recognition to the hardworking staff and students, she said.

"It shows we can do good things," said Ryan.

Ryan also said she has received positive feedback from not only the students, but from the faculty and staff about the activities.

"They feel better," said Ryan. "By 10 a.m., they have had a lot dumped on them. This gives them a break. It allows them to release that."

Ryan said an article prompted her to ask the faculty and staff how they could implement an exercise program in the school to help the students.

The article, she said, was about two groups of students, the first of which had an extra hour of academic instruction and the second of which engaged in physical activity before they took state standardized tests.

Ryan asked her faculty and staff which group they thought did better and they guessed correctly: The second group did perform better on their tests.

Yet, according to Ryan, whether the exercise program is benefiting D. Ferd Swaney students academically still remains to be seen.

Despite the unknown results, the 10-minute exercise break is one simple step that can only help the students - whether physically or academically, said Ryan.

©The Herald Standard 2006

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