Cayuse Prairie receives sports equipment grant
Cayuse Prairie School has received a $2,080 American Heart Association grant for new volleyball equipment.
“The addition of this equipment creates more opportunities for students to participate in class. Students can now get twice as many repetitions and touches in volleyball and volleyball-related activities, which is ideal in creating constant engagement for all students in a physical education class,” Cayuse Prairie Health Enhancement teacher Joel Ahles said.
The American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge has awarded roughly $400,000 to more than 170 elementary schools around the nation that participated in the program’s inaugural year in 2018-19, according to a press release.
The Kids Heart Challenge offers physical activity lessons and resources to get hearts pumping, including jump rope, basketball, dancing and an obstacle course.
“Cayuse Prairie has participated in the American Heart Association’s Kid’s Heart Challenge for over 10 years, giving an entire generation of students in the school exposure to information about heart health and how to build healthy habits to support heart health for a lifetime,” Ahles said.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans 6- through 17-year-olds need a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily to stay healthy.
“Most activity can be aerobic, like walking, running, or anything that makes their hearts beat faster. They also need activities that make their muscles and bones strong, like climbing on playground equipment, playing basketball, and jumping rope,” the guidelines state.
Funds raised by Kids Heart Challenge participants support the American Heart Association’s scientific research and outreach programs, paving the way for technological breakthroughs to improve health outcomes while creating healthier communities. Schools are encouraged to register now for the Kids Heart Challenge to bring expanded curriculum resources to their classrooms in the 2019-20 school year. All participating schools are eligible to apply for grants ranging from $250 to $3,500.
For more information about Kids Heart Challenge visit https://www2.heart.org.