More than 100 Wells Academy and East Garfield Elementary fourth-graders are working to get healthy with the Governor’s Healthy Ohio Team Tressel Fitness Challenge. They are joining more than 160,000 kids in grades 4-8 for the 90-day challenge to improve habits with exercise, nutrition and sleep and gain certificates signed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel and former Ohio State football standout and NFL wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. Wells students practicing their stretches include, front from left, Raegan Moffat, Kendrie Ayers, Giada Maccariello, Jayce Alvis and Barrett Frye. Back: Silas Rash, Gabby Woods, Vinny Colaianni, Piper McCord and Brady Reese. Photo Provided

STEUBENVILLE — Elementary students in Steubenville City Schools are jumping on the bandwagon to take the Governor’s Healthy Ohio Team Tressel Fitness Challenge.

Wells Academy and East Garfield Elementary School are joining thousands of kids in grades 4-8 across Ohio to improve their physical and mental well-being through better exercise, nutrition and sleep. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen Dackin launched the 90-day challenge to help make Ohioans healthier and live up to their full potential by building healthy habits through personalized goals. Students learn how to build a workout and lifestyle routine and may achieve bronze, silver or gold levels as a result.

Fifty students at Wells got moving in early September, while another 60 kids will begin in mid-October at East Garfield. Fourth-grade teachers Michelle Timmons and Sara Carrocci are overseeing the program at Wells with Emily Pearson serving as coordinator at the latter site.

“We have 50 fourth-grade students doing the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge,” said Timmons. “They track their daily routines and set smart goals, which include setting healthy habits for fitness, nutrition and sleep. They are trying to build lifelong habits for wellness.”

The adaptable program intends to motivate youth to make healthy decisions and students must complete activities within the 90-day timeframe. They received workbooks listing types of exercises and may add their own tasks. Suggestions include doing cardio, strength and balance techniques such as walking, dancing, stretches, sit-ups and high kicks; consuming more water, fruits and vegetables; and eliminating sugar and caffeine while also avoiding iPads and cell phones before bed. Additionally, demonstrational videos are provided on YouTube and the schools are also invited to submit their own online. Currently, an estimated 160,000 students are taking part in the challenge and may attain bronze, silver or gold levels. They may set six goals over 10 days to earn bronze, 10 goals over 20 days to reach silver, and 12 goals within 30 days to attain gold. Students may even reach their goals within 60 days and those who complete them will receive certificates signed by DeWine, Tressel and former Ohio State football standout and NFL wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr.

Timmons added that taking the positive steps help improve students overall, plus they may implement those habits at school and at home and include their loved ones.

“As teachers, we’re trying to show the different choices such as eating fruits and vegetables and exercising and how rest is important. The students made the pledge to move and make good choices, and since they are the oldest kids they are the leaders in the building. They play outside and are walking, running, stretching and doing fun activities to get moving. They also have the workbooks and videos to help track their progress.”

She continued that the students get excited and competitive, and the challenge has made a difference.

“They said, ‘I didn’t know I could make fitness fun,'” she commented.

Fourth-grader Silas Rash agreed.

“My favorite part of it is stretching and the videos and challenges, and if we do the challenge we get a reward,” he added.

Meanwhile, Pearson said dozens of fourth-graders were beginning the program at East Garfield over the next few weeks.

“As of right now, we are working on understanding the importance of staying active, moving your body, fueling your body with nutritious foods, and how important adequate rest is for our bodies. We are doing some activities in our rooms to help the students understand the importance of the above,” she explained. As the weather begins to turn, we are going to introduce the challenge to the fourth graders. We will have 90 days to complete the challenge and students will choose their own goals for fitness, nutrition, and sleep.”

She added that students could choose to set the goals for 10, 20, or 30 days and may do them at school or at home.

“We are encouraging the students to choose three movement goals to complete here at school during the day and three goals to set and complete at home on their own. As for the sleep goals, we are encouraging students to set four goals to complete at home. Students will set two nutrition goals to complete at school and three to complete at home.”

Pearson said the workbooks also aid the pupils and give them a sense of ownership and responsibility since they will record their progress.

“We like that the booklet gives them opportunities to check in with themselves, to see how their progress is going, and how they feel about their goals and activities,” she noted. “We are planning on beginning in mid-October so it allows for the students to be active as the weather changes and it gets colder and they are indoors more.”