One of the 18 month district goals for Lunt School is to increase physical activity among students. To reach this goal, the staff at Lunt worked hard to find a way to add a second recess or exercise period for first and second grade students. The result was an added short recess before lunch for second grade, and after lunch for first grade. However, this created a new dilemma.. the school nurse was seeing a lot of injuries during those added "recess" periods. The goal and purpose for adding the recess time was to increase physical activity among students, so the School Climate and Wellness Team met and concluded that the extra recess time needed to be more structured, and more of a dedicated "exercise" period, rather than a traditional "recess". Yet, we wanted to make it fun for students. One solution we found, thanks to phys ed teacher Jenn Doe, was the "Mileage Club".

The Feelin' Good Mileage Club provides opportunity for students to walk for fitness. The Mileage Club began on October 2nd and will end November 17th. It will start back up again on April 23rd. The Mileage Club is held during the exercise recess before lunch for second grade students, and after lunch for first graders. The walking course is entirely on school grounds. Each child is free to walk as little or as much as he/she desires during the designated time. The Feelin' Good Mileage Club is non-competitive.

Each student receives his or her own Mileage Marker card to keep track of the laps walked around the playground. Parent volunteers punch students' cards as they complete each lap. Five laps make a mile, and after five miles (25 hole punches on their cards), students receive a little foot token to put on a shoelace or chain. These reinforcers help students keep track of their personal accomplishment, and help provide additional motivation.

So far, students have been extremely enthusiastic and motivated about the Mileage Club. The lunch aides have also reported that students have been eating better in the lunch room since the second "exercise" recess has been added, and the school nurse has reported a noticeable reduction in playground injuries since the Mileage Club has been implemented.

The success of the Mileage Club greatly depends on parent volunteers. If you are the parent of a Lunt first or second grader, please consider volunteering to support this important wellness effort.