By Penny Leuthard, Staff Writer

In just two weeks, students at Clearview Elementary have walked an astonishing 1,342 miles during their new walking program, The Morning Mile.

Last year, classes at Clearview took turns walking around the gym in the mornings to get them ready to learn by helping to get some of their excess energy out. It made such a difference that teachers didn’t like the days the students weren’t able to do the walk.

Seeing this, physical education teacher George Bienusa took it upon himself to expand the program and make it a daily occurrence. Reading through emails he receives about active schools, he came across a program called The Morning Mile.

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.

After figuring out the route the students would walk, along with other details, Bienusa applied for and received a grant for the program, which provided the portable speaker for the music and necklaces and shoe charms for motivation. Students receive a shoe charm for every five miles they walk.

The program began two weeks ago, and teachers noticed a difference in the students immediately.

“I think it’s a great way to get kids moving and exercising,” said fifth grade teacher Jourdan Coliman. “It helps them calm down and focus.”

“Some of the kids have really long bus rides and are so antsy once they get into the classroom,” said Bienusa. “This helps calm them down.”

The students began walking as soon as they disembark from their buses each morning around 7:15 and keep walking for 20 minutes. For each lap they make they receive a popsicle stick; six popsicle sticks equal one mile. 

Along with the shoe charms (after 100 miles students receive a charm with the number 100 on it), Bienusa devised even more ways to keep students motivated. 

At the end of each week he totals up the miles walked. Each class gets a paper shoe with the number of laps and miles they’ve accomplished that week written on it. Two classes are then awarded the weekly “Golden Shoe Award,” one from kindergarten, first and second grade classes, and one from the third, fourth and fifth grade classes. The awards are made from athletic shoes spray painted gold.

Bienusa also acquired a world map, and is using it to demonstrate to the kids how far they’ve walked. The first week the school totaled 657 miles, which he explained to students was equivalent to them walking to Detroit, Michigan.

He told them they were next going to walk to New York City, which is around 3,000 miles. 6,000 miles and they’ve reached Madrid, Spain.

The students are enjoying their morning mile, some walking or running six to eight laps each day.

“I like getting out before school starts,” said fourth-grader Micah C. “I like running, walking and seeing my friends.”

“I like that you can exercise,” said fifth-grader Andres S. “It just feels good to get out all your energy.”

“Look around,” said Bienusa, gesturing to the students walking. “No one is messing around. The kids are a lot calmer. They talk and socialize with their friends.”

Parents are invited to walk with the students, and a number of them take advantage of the exercise and extra time to spend with their kids.

So far, all the grades except kindergarten are participating in The Morning Mile, although they will be joining in once they’re acclimated to school in a couple weeks.

The students will be walking outside as long as it stays nice out; once the weather changes they’ll be moving into the gym.

To date, Clearview is the only school in Minnesota to receive a grant for The Morning Mile.