Whiting Elementary Receives National Fitness Grant

Whiting Elementary School has been chosen as one of 60 schools throughout the country to receive a grant aimed at promoting fitness and fighting childhood obesity through school programs.

The grant, awarded by the Society of Health and Physical Educators -- SHAPE America -- in concert with the Voya Run For Something Better school awards program, was presented to the district at last week’s Board of Education meeting.

Whiting School physical education teacher Brenda Sheftall applied for the grant to purchase heart rate monitors to motivate her students to run.

“I’ve always seen them in my catalogs and grant was an opportunity to purchase them for our school. You can put in class information and goals, assign students their own number for privacy and they can track their progress,” she said. “The goal is to reach their target heart rate as they are running. I believe this technology will motivate our students and ultimately help them live longer, healthier lives.”

Voya Regional Vice President Nehal Thaker presented Sheftall with an initial grant check for $1,750, half of the total grant of $3,500, with the first half awarded to get the program up and running and the other half awarded upon completion.

Through the Run for Something Better program, Whiting School students can download unique running lesson plans developed by SHAPE America. Other program materials, such as sample training plans, distance logs and a running journal will aid in the development of running skills and preparation for a culminating running event. This event is held to celebrate the students’ achievements at the close of the program, which lasts a minimum of eight weeks.

“In this age of electronic devices and social media, there are many distractions that can deter students from engaging in physical activity outside of physical education class,” said Cheryl Richardson, senior director of member engagement and programming at SHAPE America. “SHAPE America is thrilled to partner with the Voya Foundation to offer students another avenue to reach the nationally recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day.”

More than 300 schools nationwide applied for the 2014 grant cycle.