Bartlett Elementary students aim to walk way to 26,526-mile goal

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Home News

Determined to walk the distance of the equator, hundreds of students and parents kicked off the JAWS — Jog And Walk Stars — exercise program at Selma Bartlett Elementary School Oct. 6.

By Frances Vanderploeg

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 | midnight

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Home News

Walking on crutches due to a hurt foot, fifth-grader Tyler Weingartner pushes himself to complete a mile during the kick-off celebration of the JAWS exercise program at Selma Bartlett Elementary School.

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Home News

Before the school bell rings, second-grader Ada MacNeill searches for her star card before beginning her walk at Selma Bartlett Elementary School.

While runners passed by and other walkers trailed behind, Amir Sheta, 9, stepped slowly, keeping his arm around his younger brother's shoulders as they made their way around Selma Bartlett Elementary School's track Oct. 7.

The brothers were participating in the second day of Selma Bartlett Elementary School's JAWS program — the Jog and Walk Stars. Volunteers by the fence were swamped, trying to control the onslaught of students, teachers, parents and grandparents waiting in line to get their card punched so they could finish another lap.

The school's goal for this year is to make it around the equator, following last year's success. Each lap done by students and their families is recorded and added to the year's goal.

This will be the second year the students are working toward the 24,902-mile goal. Last year they finished at 26,526 miles.

The smiles, water bottles, baby strollers and dripping sweat hinted at everyone's personal goal: To have fun and get fit.

"It helps you get healthier, and you try to get as many miles as you can," Amir said, while walking beside his 6-year-old brother Adam. "It's fun walking with your friends."

Kennedy McKay, 8, walked around the course with two of her friends, Mikayla Thompson and Sarah Dushoff, both 8. They also raved about the positive aspects of participating.

"It makes us healthier," Kennedy said.

The girls said they enjoy the fact that their teacher, Lynne Gronert, makes the task fun every day. She sometimes brings in snacks and treats. Also, students get a ribbon after completing 10 miles, and another for every 15 miles after that, a pizza party for 55 miles, and a free T-shirt plus their name on a plaque for 100 miles or more.

"If you can make it fun and easy, it works," Gronert said.

Gronert has been at the school for 12 years, running the program since she started. Last year, every time anyone finished a card — the first is for 10 miles, all the remaining are for 15 miles each — Gronert would raise the student's hand high in the air and start singing a victory tune.

"It's sometimes embarrassing," Sarah said. "Mrs. Gronert makes it so loud."

As part of JAWS, Gronert encourages each of her students to also get involved in the Las Vegas Kidsmarathon. They will need to run 25 miles by Dec. 1 to qualify. Any students completing that goal will run the last 1.36 miles of the Las Vegas Marathon Dec. 6.

Last year, more than 100 Bartlett students registered, Gronert said.

Frances Vanderploeg can be reached at 990-2660 or frances.vanderploeg@hbcpub.com.