Sisters students 'Run Across America'

A large group of Sisters Elementary School students just ran to New York and are on their way back.

That's figuratively speaking, of course.

The students were honored at an all-school assembly last Friday for their participation in the school's "Run Across America" campaign.

Physical education teacher Mark LaMont crafted the event from a model that is being employed by many schools throughout the United States.

In a period of 16 school days, Sisters elementary students have run 3,000 miles - all the way to New York City - and when school was dismissed for the Thanksgiving holiday break last Friday the students had already reached Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on their 3,367 mile return trek to Sisters.

Students will complete their journey after Thanksgiving vacation.

LaMont explained that a one-third-mile track has been laid out on the elementary school's playground. A route from Sisters to New York City and a return course from New York to Sisters have been plotted on a large map of the United States displayed in the school's commons. Each day the cumulative mileage that students run is charted on the map.

LaMont said, "I got the idea from other schools, but I made my own version of it with the beads. I don't think I've seen that idea before."

LaMont stands at a check point on the track and hands students a bead for each lap (1/3 mile) they run. When a mile is accumulated on the completion of the third lap, a gold bead is awarded. LaMont refers to the students who collect a gold bead as "frequent shoppers at the feet store."

Students run during recesses. LaMont remarked that each day many of the third and fourth graders run three miles, while the younger students run a mile or mile-and-a-half.

Students take the beads they earn each day back to their classrooms, and each classroom has a jar into which the beads are placed.

"The beads are really just a symbol," according to LaMont.

From time to time, the classrooms count their beads to see how many miles class members have run. Although there is no formal competition among classrooms, at Friday's assembly, LaMont recognized Mrs. Hughes' second graders for running more miles than any other class on the first leg of the trek from Sisters to New York City.

LaMont said that these students "stopped (to collect beads) 810 times at the feet store," which means Mrs. Hughes' second graders ran approximately 270 miles.

Nearly the entire student body is running, even though participation is voluntary. Principal Jan Silberman said, "It's a great way to promote fitness and a healthy lifestyle."

As an added benefit, the trek is providing students the opportunity to learn the history of the original marathon in Greece and stop along their course across the country to gather some U.S. history. Classes are discussing why New York City is referred to as the "Big Apple" and learning that the Statue of Liberty weighs 450,000 pounds and that visitors must climb 354 stairs to reach her crown. (For more Statue of Liberty trivia visit http://www.kidzworld.com/site/p2512.htm.)

LaMont remarked that the names of students who have run half marathons and full marathons are posted in the school commons next to the "Run Across America" map.

LaMont exclaimed, "There's probably 90 names of half marathoners and probably 30 or 40 that have run marathons," (see related story page 37).

The Sisters School Foundation awarded a $1,000 grant to fund the program. Through its Starry Nights Benefit Concert Series the SSF raises funds to support music, art, sports and technology programs and activities at Sisters schools. For more information about the SSF go to: http://www.sistersschoolsfoundation.org.

Volunteers constructed the one-third-mile track on a Saturday, using a couple of sod cutters to make a 32-inch-wide trail.

"We got a lot of the bark chips put down that day, but most of the bark chips were put on the trail by the kids during P.E. time. They loved it. It was great exercise, carrying buckets - one bucket a time - running back and forth from the pile."

The excitement about the program seems universal. Elementary school principal Jan Silberman said that she is not seeing momentum break down. All grade levels are excited to participate, and many students are sorry they will have to wait until after this week's Thanksgiving break to complete their "Run Across America."