Pupils’ fitness at heart of program

BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer

Call it fitness, call it math or science. Whatever you call it, pupils at the Freehold Learning Center elementary school on Dutch Lane Road in Freehold Borough are calling the new Dance Rhythms to Bio-Rhythms initiative a lot of fun.

PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Above: Pupils at the Freehold Learning Center elementary school in Freehold Borough move to the rhythms of a special program, Dance Rhythms to Bio-Rhythms, which integrates fitness, exercise science, math, music and movement in a fun way. Below: Peterson Bellinger participates in the Dance Rhythms program, which was made possible by a grant from the Freehold Borough Educational Foundation. PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Above: Pupils at the Freehold Learning Center elementary school in Freehold Borough move to the rhythms of a special program, Dance Rhythms to Bio-Rhythms, which integrates fitness, exercise science, math, music and movement in a fun way. Below: Peterson Bellinger participates in the Dance Rhythms program, which was made possible by a grant from the Freehold Borough Educational Foundation. In watching fifth-graders participate in the program, one cannot imagine a better way to integrate fitness, exercise science, math, music and movement in a more fun, relatable way.

Dance Rhythms to Bio- Rhythms was made possible with a $4,200 grant from the Freehold Borough Educational Foundation.

The grant was a collaborative effort from physical education teachers Chris Naspo and Heather Jessurun, music teacher Beth Vaughn, fourth grade teacher Josh Goldberg and school nurse Antonio Shriver.

According to Naspo, Dance Rhythms to Bio-Rhythms is a classroom based program designed to empower pupils to embrace dance, music, exercise and the scientific process. Using rhythmic music as a foundation, pupils are led in small groups to work on upper body muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, creative movement with visual dance cards, step aerobics, flexibility and balance with the use of balance beams and balance domes, Naspo explained.

The pupils will also monitor their body’s response to exercise by measuring their heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, weight and body mass index before and after exercise.

Students gathered in the school gym recently to demonstrate how Dance Rhythms to Bio-Rhythms works.

With the music they enjoy playing behind them, the pupils began the activity which incorporates an innovative way to combine the power of music and dance and the scientific method to motivate them to embrace the arts, fitness and science.

A Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) game took center stage as the youngsters followed a series of arrows to complete a dance routine, which also reinforces their coordination and balance, according to Naspo.

“Music is the backdrop that provides a connection between health concepts, fitness and movement,” he said.

The gym was alive with music and the sounds of happy youngsters doing what they love to do — move. It was also the setting for other stations, including an exercise science station where an individual’s pulse is monitored and target rate is maintained, another where children can work on balance, and another where resistance bands are available for strength training. A step aerobics station and a drumming station are available as well.

“It’s all held together by the music,” Naspo said, as the students cheered one another’s efforts. “The kids love it. It’s a unique way to get them to exercise and teach them about movement. It’s all about living a quality and healthy life.”

The objectives of the program are based on the New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards for Comprehensive Health, Physical Education, Science, and Visual and Performing Arts, according to Naspo.

Principal Donna Johnson was on hand to watch as students strutted their stuff.

“I could not be prouder of my staff members,” Johnson said. “This was not an easy grant to obtain. It was a collaborative effort among five of our teachers. The fact that they could all come together is amazing. Physical education combined with music, math and science pulled it all together. That’s what students need. It’s 21st century learning. It’s hands-on, it’s technology and it’s integrating movement and music.”