By JOSEPH KELLARD
The program, which was implemented in recent years by other elementary schools in the district, was introduced to Boardman by Jeff Risener, a physical education teacher in his first full year at 9E.
"I know that some of the other elementary schools have done this, so I wanted to get on board and do it also," Risener said.
AHA sends schools packets explaining its cause and asking for donation, and educators have their students bring them home to their parents. Educators agree to have their student jump rope in gym class and promote it as a way to prevent heart disease and develop an all-around healthier heart.
The AHA literature states that in 1997 an estimated 144,000 cardiovascular procedures were performed on children age 15 and younger, and each year heart disease and stroke kill almost 954,000 Americans (more than the next seven leading causes of death combined, including cancer and AIDS), and that a goal of the organization is to reduce coronary heart disease, stroke and risk 25 percent by 2010.
"Hopefully the students will go home and practice jumping rope -- next week, next year, ten years from now -- with the knowledge that jumping rope is a way to promote good health and prevent heart disease," Risener said.
"It's a great way to get the kids to exercise and at the same time raise money for heart disease," said Principal Dr. Karen Siris, who along with Assistant Principal Gail Alazraki, jumped rope alongside Gwynn Ackelsberg's first-grade class last Wednesday.
While some students jumped rope individually, others took one end of a long rope as a classmate jumped to their rhythm.
"I don't really jump rope, but I had fun doing it today and want to do it more," said Rebecca Hernandez , 6.
"I'm really good at jumping rope," said Daniel Budick, 7. "I have a jump rope at home and I do it a lot."
Before the students began jumping rope, Risener informed them about the AHA and how they would be helping its mission. To ground the mission in reality, Risener told them that his father died of a heart attack, he asked if they had relatives with heart troubles, and he informed them that young people are born with inherently ill hearts.
Risener encouraged his students to do the basics to maintain overall health, such as exercise, eating good foods, not to smoke and keeping stress down, and he showed them how to jump rope safely.
While some students from Lorranne Casazza's fifth-grade class had jumped rope from an early age, others were planning to jump rope more as a result of the program.
"I play basketball, baseball and ice hockey. Now, I guess I would try jumping rope at home," said Michael Weiss, 10.
"I like softball a lot and play other sports with my friends. Growing up I jumped rope a lot and I still do it," said Jessica Suppa, 11.
At the end of each class, Risener handed students certificates of thanks and bookmarks from the AHA.
Although official totals are unavailable until after spring recess, Risener estimates that the elementary school will raise approximately $1,000 for the AHA. Over six days, Middle School raised approximately $3,000, he said.
