Service Opportunity

Our Gymnastics Unit kept us busy all through December, where students practiced skills in a team setting on the balance beam, mini trampoline, vault, and parallel bars. We also had a floor routine section where students created their own routine with music to perform for the rest of the class. Each class divided into four countries that competed in the Gymnastics Final Performance Day. Each team also learned how to judge using a combination of three scores: Difficulty Score, Execution Score, and Artistry Score. It was fun to see students learn and compete in a non-traditional sport.

Next week, we will be introducing the American Heart Association's Hoops for Heart and Jump Rope for Heart at West Side Christian for the first time. This service opportunity allows students to learn how the heart works, how to stay healthy, and how they can help other kids around the world with special hearts. Each class will watch a short DVD about the national Jump Rope for Heart/Hoops for Heart Program. Then, for the next four weeks, we will dive into jump rope skills and basketball skills, all while learning about the relationship between the heart and exercise. Our final event day will involve showcasing our learned skills for parents and teachers. Students will have the next month to raise money for kids with special hearts in a donation envelope being sent home next week.

Check back often in the next month for any available resources.

Here is our Final Event Schedule:
Wednesday, February 13: Middle School Hoops For Heart (during normal PE class time)
Thursday, February 14: First Grade, Second Grade
Friday, February 15: Third Grade, Fourth Grade

Check out: www.heart.org/jump or www.heart.org/hoops for more information!

Help Your Child Save Lives and be a Heart Hero!

HOW:  Support your child in the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope For Heart program

WHAT:  A life-saving and educational community service program

WHY:  Your child will help kids with special hearts, learn about how to be heart healthy and feel good!

We are thrilled to share our school is supporting the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope For Heart program! 

When your child participates in Jump Rope For Heart he/she:

 ·         Learns about the importance of the heart – how it works, and how to take care of it: Through classroom exercises and educational information provided by the American Heart Association.

·         Helps kids with special hearts: Our safe online tool makes it easy for your child to set up a Web page and send emails to invite friends and family to support their fundraising efforts and to share life-saving information. 

·         Feels good for making a difference in people’s lives!  Funds raised support American Heart Association research and education initiatives that save lives in our community.  Congenital heart defects are the most common cause of infant death from birth defects.  Many children are alive today because of treatments not available even 10 years ago. Funded research and advancements have changed and saved their lives!

We hope you are as excited as we are to support our students in this important experience!  If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please let me know.  Visit www.heart.org/jump to get started today!

Please return your child’s donation envelope by:  FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15

Lexi, age 11   “This has changed my life by making me aware of what other kids have gone through who also have heart defects. I now realize how amazing it is to have doctors who are able to fix peoples' hearts and make them better again, and I am very thankful for them!”

*Our school also has the opportunity to earn free physical education equipment.