5th grader initiates record-breaking event

The faculty at Barnum Woods Elementary School promotes active student participation and when 5th grader Justin Colon asked physical education instructor Debbie Barbato if the students could attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most people doing jumping jacks, she listened.

First Lady Michelle Obama, National Geographic Kids and Flash Mob America helped organize and encourage large and small groups throughout the nation to get more than 20,000 people to do jumping jacks for one minute within one day, and on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 641 Barnum Woods students participated.

“I thought maybe I could make a big change,” said Justin, “and it just all fit together.” The young man, with Justin Bieber-styled hair and glasses, said he loves to dance and was on the Internet looking up flash mobs with his mother when he learned about the record-breaking opportunity.

Justin, who could not stop smiling, said he was excited for America to break a world record and said the “Let’s Jump” campaign was a great opportunity to get people moving. “Instead of sitting on the couch watching TV, everyone can be exercising and losing a lot of weight.”

Ana Colon, Justin’s mother, enrolled her son in dance class three years ago after she saw he was always tapping his feet. “I noticed I was calling him Mumbles,” she said, an animated character from the movie “Happy Feet” who is always wiggling. The proud mom was not surprised that her son took the initiative to present “Let’s Jump” saying, “That’s the kind of kid he is. He does things all the way through.”

Shortly before school dismissal, students in grades 2, 3 and 4 gathered in the gym while 1st, 5th and afternoon kindergarten convened in the all purpose room. Physical education instructor Don Whearty addressed the later group and said, “We are going to be part of a group of people who are promoting health. People all over the country have been doing the same thing.” This excited the youngsters and the jumping began.

Principal Greg Bottari was at the “Let’s Jump” event and said he always welcomes students’ ideas. “We’ve always promoted student ownership in their learning [and] when the kids present it, the kids embrace it.” Justin added that he thought the idea would be well received after he saw 5th graders host Jog for Japan, a run that raised money after the destructive earthquake last year.

Barnum Woods Elementary School will receive a certificate of participation after it is determined if the world record was broken. National Geographic Kids said this could take several months.