Clearview Elementary’s Physical Education Teacher George Bienusa led his students in walking around the world this year, and for doing so was named a Health Hero by CentraCare’s Feeling Good MN initiative.
Bienusa received the Health Hero award for initiating The Morning Mile at Clearview this fall, applying for and receiving a grant for the program. The Morning Mile is a before-school walking program that gives students the chance to actively start each day with music and friends. The goal of the program is to increase activity and help fight childhood obesity.
Clearview’s 386 students walked every morning school was in session, outside when possible but walking in the gym when the weather didn’t cooperate. As a school, they walked 21,275.32 miles, with an average of 55 miles per student.
Twenty-six students reached the 100-mile club achievement, with the top students running 163 miles. A record of miles walked were also kept per classroom, with the top classroom racking up 1,913.17 miles.
Seven students received a free pair of tennis shoes during three different walking challenges that were held in conjunction with the Morning Mile throughout the year. The shoes were donated by Scheels, Horace Mann and several anonymous donors.
“It was a good year for the Morning Mile,” said Bienusa. “The students developed another way to stay fit, get their metabolism going and socialize. Our school had to endure the wintery conditions of Minnesota but they braved it like troopers. Sure, they whined about the cold but they did an outstanding job.”
To help motivate students, Bienusa hung up a world map that he used to demonstrate how far they’ve walked. Throughout the year the students “walked” from Clearview to Key West, Key West to Dublin, Dublin to Kuwait, Kuwait to Dubai, Dubai to India, India to China, China to Russia, Russia to Alaska and finally Alaska back home to Clearview (with a stop at Wrigley Field in Chicago along the way to see the Cubs play!)
