Somerset Elementary Raises Money for American Heart Association

Students at Somerset Elementary in School District 197 participated in Jump Rope for Heart, a program through the American Heart Association that raises money to help in the fight against heart disease and strokes. Somerset students raised $4,604 overall in donations for the American Heart Association.

Tracy Westman, physical education teacher and Jump Rope For Heart coordinator for the school, feels that this is a valuable experience for her students. She teaches students about the importance of having a healthy heart and how the heart works leading up to the Jump Rope for Heart event.

“Through this process, students learn how to stay healthy by choosing not to smoke, getting plenty of physical activity, and choosing to eat healthy food,” said Westman. “Jump Rope for Heart is a great tie-in for improving personal jumping skills and heart health as well as helping other people.”

The whole student body participated in the Jump Rope for Heart event on February 17. Each grade participated in jumping activities in the gym in hour-long blocks throughout the school day. Students moved through various physical activity stations, including short jump ropes, long jump ropes, hula-hoops, hurdles, mini trampolines, and hopscotch.

This is the eighth year that Somerset has participated in Jump Rope for Heart, and Westman hopes to continue participating in it in the future for its valuable learning opportunities. As third grader Cole said, “I learned that our hearts have four chambers and that our hearts move blood through our bodies, and we’re jumping to raise money for people who don’t have hearts that work the same as ours and whose hearts need help.”

Source: District 197