January 29, 2016 - 680 Center Elementary students and staff dusted off their walking shoes and joined in to “Walk Across Texas.” The school formed 36 teams and competed with each other to see which team could walk the most miles over eight weeks from November 2015 – January 2016. Their goal was to walk at least 830 miles (the distance from Longview to El Paso) in eight weeks.
At the conclusion of the 8 week program, the teams walked an astounding 53,248 miles with Mrs. Cordray, Mrs. Radney, and Ms. Gipson’s classes placing first place for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades. Second place teams included Ms. Cox, Mrs. Hooper, and Mrs. Gregston’s classes. Coming in third place was Mrs. Elder, Mrs. Masterson, and Ms. Lyles’s classes. All students were presented certificates of participation.
Over 50 students walked additional bonus miles outside of class and their names were placed in a drawing for a girl’s and boy’s bike which was donated by Center ISD Nutrition Department and Southwest Food Service Excellence. The winners of the bikes were Kaiden Buckley from Ms. Sullivan’s class and Sucely Chaj Aguilar from Mrs. Caraway’s class.
Special thank you to Mrs. Norvell, Center Elementary principal, Mrs. Bretos, Center Elementary PE teacher, Food Services, and the Center ISD School Health Advisory Committee for making this program a success.
Walk Across Texas, sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is a fun, flexible, and FREE way to encourage people to exercise. For more information on wellness, nutrition or fitness programs, call Jheri-Lynn McSwain, CEA-FCS at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Shelby County at 936-598-7744 or email at jlmcswain@ag.tamu.edu.
1st Grade Top Walkers – Mrs. Cordray’s Class
2nd Grade Top Walkers – Mrs. Hooper’s Class
3rd Grade Top Walkers – Ms. Gipson’s Class
Submitted by Jheri-Lynn McSwain
