A.C.E.S. launched 27th Anniversary exercise program despite Montville's threatening skies

The world’s largest exercise class originated in Montville, New Jersey, twenty-seven years ago. A.C.E.S. – All Children Exercise Simultaneously – was created by Valley View Elementary School Physical Education Teacher, Len Saunders.

Usually held outside, the 2015 A.C.E.S. event at Valley View was moved indoors due to threatening skies. But the students and faculty were not deterred.

Excitement was high as Pre-K through second grade filled the lunch room, and grades three to five crowded into the gymnasium.

“Millions of children are exercising together today to fight childhood obesity,” Saunders explained.

Four fifth-grade students, Michael Zheng, Danny Gologorsky, Samantha Edelman and Jordana Ruderman were selected to lead the school’s 426 students. Zheng and Edelman, created the exercise routine for those in the gym, while Gologorsky and Ruderman motivated students in the lunch room.

“It is important to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to stay healthy,” Zheng told the crowd. He also reminded them to drink water and get plenty of sleep.

A.C.E.S. is held on the first Wednesday in May every year. In celebration of the twenty-seventh anniversary, Saunders and his students were once again joined by students in schools and other organizations all around the world.

“A.C.E.S is one of my favorite days of the year,” said Valley View Principal Patricia Kennedy. “You are going to have fun today.”

Saunders, an award winning author of several physical fitness books, is an international expert on keeping kids motivated for exercise. He is the founder of the Youth Fitness Coalition, and author of the acclaimed book, “Keeping Kids Fit.” A.C.E.S. was his first global initiative designed to make a priority of physical fitness. An exercise expert, Saunders also founded “Exercise US,” an October exercise program which begins on the East Coast of the United States and continues west for ten hours. In “Exercise US,” continuous physical movement, shared by thousands of students in many schools, breaks across the nation’s time zones like a wave of exercise.

“A.C.E.S is not just for today,” Saunders told the students at the end of the thirty-minute event. “Exercise is for every day.”

“This was fun” said Ruderman about leading the school in exercise.

Gologorsky agreed. “It was great to see the kids all happy and exercising.”

A.C.E.S 2016 is already gearing up for the 28th Anniversary. The event will be held on May 4, 2016. Schools and other organizations can sign up at lensaunders.com to join Saunders, Valley View Elementary School students and children around the world in the exercise event that originates in Montville, New Jersey.