Source: AgriLife Today
More than 1,600 youth from 17 schools in the Harlandale Independent School District walked over 338,190 miles while completing the Walk Across Texas after-school fitness challenge presented by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
A concluding Walk Across Texas celebration was held recently at Vestal Elementary, the winning school of the district competition. Student participants were presented first-place medals and school staffers received certificates of appreciation. In addition, Vestal received a first-place trophy that will rotate to the winning school of each year’s competition.
Vestal Elementary took first place by logging 158,562.62 miles of the overall total of 338,190.6 miles for all 17 schools.
The 17 participating schools, mainly elementary and middle school levels, were all part of the Harlandale ISD’s Leadership Enrichment Academics Partnership, or LEAP, and Afterschool Centers of Education, or ACE, 21st Century Program after-school initiatives.
Participating LEAP sites were Bellaire, Gilbert, Morrill, Schulze, Vestal and Wright elementary schools and Harlandale, Kingsborough and Leal middle schools. Participating ACE schools were Adams, Carroll, Collier, Columbia Heights, Gillette and Stonewall elementary schools, Terrell Wells Middle School and STEM Early College High School.
The Walk Across Texas competition helped the students in other ways besides promoting physical activity, added Vestal Elementary principal Marianela Gonzalez.
After four weeks, a celebration was held at Bellaire Elementary, which had accumulated the most miles at the midpoint of the competition. Students were rewarded with a field day that included a range of games and physical activities.
By the end of the program, however, Vestal Elementary had taken the lead.
Learn more about Walk Across Texas and get into the habit of healthy!
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