Students Successful In ‘Walking’ To Disneyland

By Tanjua Damon

In five weeks about 30 Newtown Middle School eighth graders walked more than the 7,551,033 steps necessary to make it from Newtown to Disneyland in California during the “Miles in Motion” program piloted this year thanks to a grant from the State Department of Education.

Michelle Fontaine’s gym class were all smiles April 10 when they took the last 200 steps they needed to reach their destination –– Disneyland. The students as well as their gym teacher, Principal Diane Sherlock, and nurse Barbara Reilly wore pedometers from the time they woke up in the morning to the time they went to bed, recording every step they took over the last five weeks.

The purpose of the program was to increase students’ involvement in understanding the importance of physical activity and good nutrition.

Middle school nurse Barbara Reilly took each student’s height and weight, and body mass index was anonymously recorded so students do not know those results. The same measurements were taken again at the end of the six weeks to measure results. Students were also encouraged to eat nutritiously and eat breakfast each day. The students named the program, “Miles in Motion: A Quest for Health,” themselves. A bulletin board was designed in the cafeteria so the entire school could follow along.

“Thank you for participating in the program and making it very successful,” Ms Fontaine said to her students. “We will be able to continue this program.”

Ms Sherlock walked 104 miles during the five weeks, while Ms Fontaine walked 129 miles. Everyone involved walked 2,860.25 total miles over the period of the program.

“It may not seem like a lot,” Ms Fontaine said. “But that really is an accomplishment.”

Katie Datin, one of the top student walkers with 158.5 miles, enjoyed the program.

“I just do a lot of after-school activities and dance. My little sister is rowdy, too,” Katie said. “I thought it was good. I kind of forgot it was there.”

Kenneth Picerno noticed that he lost four or five pounds during the five-week walking program.

“I gained some muscle from all the walking,” Kenneth said.

Jesse Furphy was the other top student walker with 137.5 miles, who admits he questioned the idea of just walking to gain fitness.

“At first I didn’t think I walked that much,” Jesse said. “But I thought it was pretty good. It turned out to be fun.”

Ms Reilly is pleased with the results of the student’s participation in the program. She feels the program has brought the idea of exercise in a different light for these middle schoolers.

“Anytime you have the chance to increase students activity is good. I think this gave them something to think about,” Ms Reilly said. “It’s [walking] free and always available.”

Ms Reilly admitted she was a bit surprised that student’s body mass index did not change that much, but she realized it was a short period of time.

“When you build strength you don’t always loose pounds,” she said. “You build muscle. This is just a small way to impress upon students that it is important to keep moving their bodies.”

The middle school hopes to continue the program next year with another class or multiple classes throughout the year.