By Amy Batista, Special Writer
MONROE — Hundreds of students at Applegarth Elementary School came to school dressed in red as students supported “Wear Red Day” and got their hearts pumping for its first annual Jump Rope for Heart on Feb. 27.
”So far, it’s been a huge success,” gym teacher Stacy Fleisher said. “The kids are having fun, getting a nice workout and also helping kids.”
February was American Heart Month.
”It’s really great,” fourth-grade teacher Hardevi Shah said. “They are really excited. They have been reading about the heart and keeping the heart healthy so they know it’s their role to exercise and be energetic and really participate in the awareness.”
Students filed into the gym for the “Wear Red Day,” forming a sea of red throughout the gym as the students donned red shirts to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease in conjunction with the Jump Rope for Heart event.
According to Ms. Fleisher and Ms. Shah, students and staff also wore “Go Red” pins to show support and the importance of the heart.
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, causing 33 percent of deaths each year. That’s approximately one woman every minute, according to www.goredforwomen.org.
”(It is important) that we get to have a good time, and our heart is pumping,” said fourth-grader Alexis Masella, of Monroe.
According to Ms. Shah, the students have been preparing for the event for the past few weeks; learning about “being heart healthy” is part of the physical education curriculum.
They learn about “making good decisions when choosing snacks, especially during lunch, to support good nutrition and a healthy heart from a young age,” Ms. Shah said. “We studied body systems in health and talked about getting the heart rate up and why it is important.”
About 288 fourth- and fifth-graders participated in Jump Rope for Heart sessions. During those sessions, the students had various stations in which the students rotated every five minutes.
Students began with warm-up exercises, then jumped roped for 10 minutes. Next, they participated in a variety of stations, which included an individual jump rope, big group jump rope (a group activity), bop along bouncer race, hula hoops, jump roping race and twirl and jumps and lemon twists — all played to music in the background.
”We are having lots of fun with friends and classmates,” said fourth-grader Justin Siochi, of Monroe.
Students had the opportunity to earn a Good Sport Award, which was given to a student who demonstrated knowledge and participation throughout the activity. Classes also received a behavior sticker if they had a positive attitude, participated and demonstrated good sportsmanship throughout the lesson.
”I learned that good sportsmanship counts,” Alexis said.
According to Alexis, she learned about the importance of donating to the American Heart Association.
”There are a lot of people who need our help,” Alexis said.
”We are doing Jump Rope for Heart to raise funds to find a cure to help the ones who are really sick with diseases,” said fourth-grader Madison Damore, of Monroe.
To Madison, this was really important to do, and every little bit counts.
”It doesn’t matter how much money you have because when you are putting in the money, each dollar is helping,” Madison said.
Every year, about 950,000 Americans die from cardiovascular diseases and strokes, according to the American Heart Association website, www.heart.org.
Ms. Fleisher was in charge of organizing the event.
The students raised $3,396.20 this year. It was their first fundraising event for Jump Rope for Heart for the American Heart Association.
”We are raising money for kids with heart problems whether they were born that way, congenital,” Ms. Fleisher said. “(The money) goes towards research and education.”
”I liked that it was fun, and that you got to get active,” said fifth-grader Anaya Crenshaw, of Monroe, who added her favorite part was “the sit and bounce thing.”

