South Elementary students in Jackson set marathon goal

Every Tuesday until April a dwindling group of fourth- and fifth-graders at South Elementary in Jackson are taking part in Marathon Kids.

For each of 26 weeks the students have to read 100 pages of a book, do one good deed and on Tuesdays run a mile.

The group started out with around 60 students, a number that has fallen to about 50 as some forgot to get their folders showing their reading and good deeds signed or forgot their shoes.

Kindergarten teacher Becky Wachter, special education teacher Tiffiney Smith and librarian Susan Skelton got the idea from Clippard Elementary in Cape Girardeau, which did the program last year.

The program motivates children to perform physical activity and teaches them responsibility, Smith said.

The day starts off with a nutrition and health discussion from Angela Compton, a nurse practitioner. Tuesday's topic was smoking.

Compton, who has run two marathons, said that a lot of students don't get the exercise they need and that the club is a good way to encourage exercise.

"If they start out obese, it's practically impossible to lose it as an adult," Compton said.

While not everyone can be a star basketball player or football player, running is a good way to show that exercise can be enjoyable, Smith said.

After a quick folder check and the health discussion, the students stretch on the playground before running to the gravel track in the field behind the school.

As each student finishes, they move to the sideline to cheer for the rest of the group.

Those encouragements echo in fourth-grader Cheyenne Vaughn's mind as she goes through the rest of the week.

"It helps me to have more confidence to do more reading," Cheyenne said.

She also said by participating she thinks more positively about herself.

A better self-image is not the only benefit. Students also see results in the classroom.

"It's just that added responsibility," Smith said. "They know they have to have this and this done with no ifs ands or buts about it."

Rachel Smith, a fourth-grader, said running helps her pay attention more in class.

"Before we did this I was sleepy in class sometimes, and now on Tuesdays and through the rest of the week I am way more awake, and it's easier to pay attention when you're awake," Rachel said.

In seven weeks, the students have improved from a group time of 16 minutes to 12 minutes and 32 seconds.

ameyer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127