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Thursday, Sep. 17, 2009

Livermore hands over gym-dandy fitness prize

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Recess at Tuolumne Elementary School is a mix of tetherball, jumping rope, soccer and kickball.

Later this year, the Modesto school's 703 students will have another way to stay active — $100,000 in equipment for a state-of-the-art fitness center — after a Livermore elementary school decided to do a good deed.

Tuolumne and Rancho Las Positas Elementary were among 92 statewide finalists for three fitness centers after their students participated in the 2008-09 Governor's Challenge.

Rancho Las Positas won the prize, but decided to pay it forward, Principal Chris Calabrese said.

"We felt we should give it to a deserving school," he said. "Our kids and staff deserve the recognition, but we decided we don't need the gym."

Officials announced Wednesday the winners for the Governor's Challenge during the 2008-09 school year. More than 300 people attended the Sacramento event.

The competition requires schoolchildren to get at least 30 minutes of exercise three days a week for a month.

Tuolumne School Principal Mark Lewis didn't know what to say when he heard about Rancho Las Positas' gift.

"I was shocked and surprised and very grateful. You don't expect that, especially in these tough economic times," he said.

Lewis will tell the students about the gym at a schoolwide assembly today.

The Stanislaus County Office of Education organized a countywide campaign called Fit for the Future to increase physical activity and combat childhood obesity. Schoolchildren and staff were urged to get at least 30 minutes of exercise three days a week for a month.

Each month they finished counted as one Governor's Challenge completed.

Throughout last year, Tuolumne students jumped rope and played soccer during recess and logged their activity in the school's computer lab. The school ranked sixth in the Gold Country Region with 722 students finishing 76,959 active days — days in which students exercised for 30 minutes or more. Rancho Las Positas logged 23,308 days from 535 students.

Tuolumne sixth-graders Daisy Alaniz and Bethany Harp participated in Fit for the Future last year and were excited about the possibility of winning the fitness center. They said they played soccer and basketball to get their 30 minutes of exercise, and even convinced their siblings to play.

"It's a good way to get people more involved in it so people will be healthier," Bethany, 11, said. The friendly competition also helped motivate students, they said.

The 92 finalists had to submit three essays on what they do to promote physical activity, what they do to promote healthy eating and their need for a fitness center.

Tuolumne's essay said, "Located in the part of Stanislaus County that is known as 'no man's land,' Tuolumne School is an island of safety for our community. Though there is a park a few blocks away, students are afraid to use the park because of gang activity. The only other open space for students to play is the school. Due to the location and high poverty level, students do not have access to community recreation activities, available to other students in the community."

The Herndon Road school is near the Modesto-Ceres border, an area with a higher-than-average crime rate.

In their essay, Rancho Las Positas officials wrote, "We are constantly battling budget issues like many schools in our state. Rancho could definitely use the fitness center to evolve our wellness programs. However, we are not the most in need."

Rancho Principal Calabrese said the school has outdoor exercise equipment including pull-up bars and stairs. Parents and staff also wanted to concentrate efforts on installing a new track for the school's running club. They've raised about half of the $40,000 needed, Calabrese said.

"We already have something in place," he said. "And we know there are schools out there hurting more than us. Students were excited to help another school."

Governor's Challenge officials helped choose Tuolumne as the alternative grand prize winner.

They were touched by Rancho Las Positas' offer, said Jake Steinfeld, chairman of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

"To see these kids wanting to help other kids ... it renews my optimism for the future of this great state," he said.

Tuolumne's Lewis said he'll put the gym in a portable. He plans on inviting Rancho Las Positas students and staff to the ribbon cutting.

Not only did Tuolumne get the grand prize, but Hickman Elementary School won the Gold Country Regional Award and $6,000 for its campus. Stanislaus County was named county of the year and Manteca Unified School District was named district of the year during Wednesday's award ceremony.

Stanislaus County will be kicking off a second year of Fit for the Future this fall. Officials chose fitness because of the county's high obesity and diabetes rates.

Bee staff writer Michelle Hatfield can be reached at mhatfield@modbee.com or 578-2339.