Go the Distance
Lighten Up Iowa
by Dawn Fichter, School Nurse
January 12, 2006
405 Missouri Valley Students participating in Go the Distance. The participants include all students in grades kindergarten through 5th, a portion of Mrs. Breyfogle’s physical education class in the middle school, Mr. Earleywine’s aerobics class and the HOSA group in the high school. This is a four-month competition sponsored by the Iowa Sports Foundation for Iowa youth to learn the importance of good nutrition and physical activity in a positive and fun way.
Each team will log their minutes of activity on a colorful wall chart in their classroom. The goal is to have each team member average 30 minutes of continuous activity 5 days a week. The teams that meet this goal will be put into a drawing for a Subway sandwich each month. They will also be eligible for a drawing for one of 5 monetary awards at the completion of the program. One $1000 award and four $500 awards will be given to schools for use toward further physical activity and wellness efforts. Each participating student will receive a Go the Distance bracelet half way through the program if they continue to participate.
Missouri Valley Community School has 30 staff members participating in the Lighten Up Iowa program. Lighten Up Iowa (LUI) is a team-based program designed to promote positive lifestyle changes during the course of the five-month program. They will keep track of their minutes of exercise each month and report the total to the team captain. They also receive a T-shirt and weekly e-mail on fitness and nutrition tips.
For further information on this program: www.lightenupiowa.org
