Stockbridge students to participate in ACES

by Jill Marie Ogden

May 1, Stockbridge K-5 students, in tandem with students across the nation, will participate in the annual ACES run. ACES, All Children Exercising Simultaneously, began in 1989 and has been referred to as the world’s largest exercise class. Stockbridge physical education teacher, Rachel Jones, has been organizing the project in Stockbridge for the past 15 years.

“We have done such activities as Nature Walks, Whole School Walks, and the ACES Runathon which has raised thousands of dollars for the Parent Teacher Organization and the elementary physical education program,” Jones said.

This signature program of the Youth Fitness Coalition takes place the first Wednesday of May, coinciding with national physical fitness and sports month and national physical education week. The run doubles as a fundraiser for the PE department and PTO. The PTO hopes to use funds raised from this year’s runathon toward playground repair and improvements.

Students collect pledges and earn prizes such as Panther water bottles, hats and sweatshirts. “The basic idea is to emphasize the importance of implementing exercise in our daily lives.

During March, which was Reading Month, the students took part in D.E.A.R., Drop Everything and Read.

“The ACES program adopts the same concept but asks students to stop what they are doing and exercise,” Jones said.