By Suzanne Schmidt
Staff Writer
WESLEY CHAPEL—Fitness is key to the future at Wesley Chapel Elementary School.
The school recently opened its Wildcat Student and Staff Wellness Center, a physical fitness gym packed with exercise equipment. Coach Chris Gorman said he wants to make sure students grow up to live a healthy lifestyle.
“This is important because the obesity rate is so high,” Gorman said. “Obesity is on the way to surpass smoking as the leading cause of preventable death.”
The new Wildcat wellness center has stations for teacher-led physical education and is open for teachers to use during lunch, and before and after school. The facility is part of a pilot program through the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a program that works to reduce the nationwide prevalence of childhood obesity. The American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation joined forces in May 2005 to form the Alliance.
“As a part of the program, we sent out a survey to our students and staff,” Gorman said. “The staff requested a facility to use at the school. The students selected exercises they wanted to do like strength and flexibility exercises.”
There are 27 different stations for various workouts using exercise balls, resistance bands and even a punching ball.
“The stations have dots with diagrams that tell what exercise to do and which muscle they are working,” Gorman said. “We try to create a fun place to work out. If we keep it fun, then the students will keep being excited about it.”
The facility cost a total of $1,350 for equipment, which included a treadmill, elliptical, stepper, stationary bike, three cable machines, two free weight machines and a dumbbell set for the teachers to use.
Christina Twardosz, assistant principal, said many teachers have been using the facility.
“We have found that the team camaraderie has gone up because the teachers are working out together,” Twardosz said. “This helps our teachers too because it relieves the financial burden of joining a gym.”
The Bridgewater Home Owners Association donated $1,000 to the new wellness center. The school’s parent teacher association and the school donated the rest.
Sabrina Schmitt, 11, likes the center. She said she is inspired now to continue to work out for the rest of her life.
“I like that I get to exercise during school,” Schmitt said. “It helps me both physically and mentally. I want to continue to work out because it is good for my body and it keeps me healthy.”
Gorman said exercise helps students inside the classroom, because they are more alert and pay better attention in class.
Elexis Twardosz, 11, said working out helps her do better in school.
“I think it is really good to work out,” Twardosz said. “It is a good way to get out of class and work on my muscles. It helps me to focus better.”
Principal John Abernathy said he is happy to have the facility available for his staff and his students.
“It is a great thing for the kids to recognize the importance of being physically fit,” Abernathy said. “This will set them up for years down the road to have good habits. It is important for them to have a healthy lifestyle.”
The fitness center is currently located in a portable on the school’s campus, which is something Abernathy is hoping to change in the future.
“We would like to have it in a permanent building one day,” Abernathy said. “Since it takes money that is not in our operational budget, we are hoping a business will sponsor a building. It is a great investment because from generation to generation the students and teachers will be able to use it.”
For more information, visit wces.pasco.k12.fl.us or contact Abernathy at (813) 794-0100.
