Santa Cruz Elementary needs your vote to win $25,000

Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit is offering a school the opportunity to win $25,000 to improve fitness for its students, and Maricopa’s Santa Cruz Elementary is one of 10 finalists nationwide.

Santa Cruz is the only finalist from Arizona and the only one from the entire West Coast.

“I am very passionate about physical activity and impacting the lives of the students I work with.  Our school has been given an amazing opportunity and we need Arizona’s help,” said Tracy Carey, Santa Cruz’s physical education teacher.
 
Beginning November 15, visit www.henkelhelps.com and vote for Santa Cruz Elementary. You can vote once per day, per email and anyone with a valid email address can vote. The school with the most votes wins. 
 
Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit was created to help schools, communities, and families nationwide address the urgent health and fitness crisis among our nation’s youth, while acknowledging the budget crisis faced by schools across the country. The award can be used for providing enhanced health and fitness education, equipment, technology, resources and services for students and their community.

Here is a portion of Santa Cruz Elementary’s winning entry, written by Carey:
  
“You may be wondering why Mrs. Carey feels it is so important for the students of Santa Cruz to be active and healthy. Knowing the current trend of childhood obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and even heart disease among our children, she wants to be someone who can make a difference.  Mrs. Carey knows that quality physical education is only the first step.  Encouraging students to get physical and include bouts of activity throughout their school day can improve their sleep habits, increase their energy, decrease risks for certain health issues and most of all guide them in a positive direction toward a healthy adolescence and adulthood.

“Where to begin, thinks Mrs. Carey. She thinks and thinks and thinks. And then…the perfect idea comes to her. A Physical Activity Center (P.A.C.)!  Transforming an empty classroom into a place for extra physical activity–what a great idea! Students who work hard in their classes can earn time in the P.A.C. The activity center has juggling scarves, yo-yo’s, cup stacking, quick hands drills, Chinese jump ropes, fitness dice and even physical activity bingo! According to Mrs. Carey, this just the beginning of the physical activity center.

“She wants to make this room “the” place to be at Santa Cruz by adding active gaming! What is active gaming, you ask? Active gaming is integrating technology with physical activity, using things such as rhythmic dance games and virtual sport games. Technology and activity sound like a winning combination!

“’Climbing to success’ sounds like a great motto for Santa Cruz!’ Mrs. Carey exclaims. Adding a climbing wall to our multipurpose room brings an activity that promotes self-esteem, contributes to cardiovascular and muscular endurance, enhances the skills of cooperation and team-building and is super fun! Mrs. Carey can even use a climbing wall for other activities in school like spelling and math! Making learning fun and active; what a concept!

“’Recess is a favorite time of day for the Coyotes, but how can it be more active?’ considers Mrs. Carey. A basketball court, a playground with swings, slides, monkey bars and a field are not always enough. Enhancing the playground with new equipment like basketballs, scoops and balls, footballs, hopscotch, 4-square, hula hoops, jump ropes, soccer balls and Frisbees will equal more activity time. ‘Being active and healthy is within our reach!’ Mrs. Carey realizes.

“Unfortunately new and exciting ways to keep students active and healthy are not free. Mrs. Carey is faced with this sad reality. But a hero will come to the rescue! The Henkel Helps Hero will save the day so the students of Santa Cruz can be active and healthy. With the help of Henkel and $25,000, this elementary school can improve youth fitness by adding active gaming, a climbing wall and additional recess equipment. And the students at Santa Cruz Elementary will live healthily ever after!”

“Let’s bring these funds to Arizona students and improve youth fitness for the students of Santa Cruz,” says Carey.
 
File photo