Dressed in a Superman cape and shirt, Clearview Elementary School physical education teacher George Bienusa led students in a day of fun activities designed to get their hearts pumping and raise money for The American Heart Association. 

 

Jump Rope for Heart is one of the American Heart Association’s classroom programs that are aimed at teaching kids healthy heart habits and the importance of helping others. Along with participating in the event, students are encouraged to get donations from friends and family that will help save lives of people with heart problems.

 

Held in February, it was the school’s 10th annual Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser, which was begun by Bienusa the year he began teaching at Clearview.

 

“I take a day out of Phy Ed and talk to the kids about how important it is to exercise and have a strong heart,” he said. “I always tell a story about someone I know who has a bad heart so that it’s more meaningful to them.”

 

Bienusa set up 16 different stations designed to get students’ heart rate going and work their lower body, including step-ups, pogo balls, hoops, hopscotch, and of course, jump rope. Students rotated from station to station every two and a half to three minutes for 45 minutes, long enough to get their heart rate going but short enough that they didn’t get bored. Coborn’s donated cookies for the rest station.

 

“I stress to the kids the importance of being able to do it,” said Bienusa. “I tell them to think of someone they know with heart problems that they want to jump for that day. You can do it, but they can’t.”

 

The students decide if they want to get donations for the event, it’s not required. Jump Rope for Heart is held during regular physical education classes so all the students in kindergarten through fifth grade participate. To give them something to work for, student can receive a variety of prizes depending on how much money they raise.

 

This year Clearview students raised over $14,000 for The American Heart Association, through which the phy ed department will receive $600 for equipment.

 

For more information on the American Heart Association or Jump Rope for Heart, visit their website at www.heart.org.