MAY GREENE JUMPS FOR JOY

Members of the jump rope team received T-shirts donated by Caring Communities as part of their uniform. Tina Johnson, a veteran jumper, designed the team's T-shirts.

The jumping was good cardiovascular exercise.

Jumping rope makes for a healthy heart, but students on the May Greene Jump Rope Team are learning it also develops higher self-esteem and good work ethics.

Thirty fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students -- including two boys -- have joined the team for its fourth year. The students meet for an hour each week to work on routines for single, band, double-dutch and trick rope jumping.

"Every year this has grown a little bigger and gotten different components," said Mary Ann Lewis, a team sponsors. "It's a real ego experience for our kids because they get to show off their skill."

Lewis and sponsor Debbie Phillips said jumping rope requires a lot of practice and skill, and they admire the students who participate in the program. Students sign a commitment to attend all of the practices, and they are on a demerit system that ensures they keep their agreement. In return, they get to wear the team uniform and travel to all of the engagements.

"Most of them really take it seriously and work real hard," said Lewis. "This year, we'll travel to Dexter, Perryville, and other area private and public schools. Some of these kids really enjoy showing what they can do and then teaching others."

Some of the sixth-graders have been on the team for three years. They said they enjoy going to new places, and they have become much better jumpers than they were as fourth-graders.

"I like going places with the team; it makes me feel good," said Tina Johnson, who is a veteran jumper who also designed the team's T-shirts. "I've learned better because I practice all the time."

Johnson's brother Dorrell is a fourth-grader and a newcomer to the team. He said he and his sister often practice at home, and he likes showing others that boys can jump rope, too. He said the other boys rarely tease him about being on a team with so many girls.

"The other boys think it's cool," he said.

Lewis said many of the younger students at May Greene aspire to become team members. The older kids teach them what they know, she said, and that helps them develop teaching skills and self-esteem.

"A lot of the younger kids are practicing to be on the team," she said. "They yell and scream when the bigger kids are jumping, and we hear them saying they can't wait to become fourth-graders so they can be on the team.

"They all love it because they love to jump rope."