WES's 34th JUMP ROPE FOR HEART
WES's 34th JUMP ROPE FOR HEART
Everybody says, “JUMP! JUMP!”
On Wednesday, February 15, our grades 4-6 students celebrated our 34th annual Jump Rope for Heart Day. Our school and community continue to support our jump rope day and we were able to raise over $9000 to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and took our total to over $430,000. What an incredible total! Top three pledge earners were Kendall Trevors, Chase Currier and Ainsley Carey. Thank you, Wainwright and grandparents, aunts and uncles, neighbors and students who pledged dollars and our students completed those pledges by jumping their hearts out.
The day started early as we organized and prepped the gym for a day of jumping, fellowship and fun. Huge salute to Mrs. Munn, Mrs. Chaulk, Mrs. Koroluk, Mrs. Lingley and Mrs. Rhodes for assisting with the preparation. The Grade 4s started the jumping off at 10:30 and performed some individual skipping techniques until 11:00 and then the long ropes and double ropes took over. Students could be seen laughing, tripping, falling, singing and dancing to loud music. Our BTPS Superintendent Rhae-Ann Holoien and Deputy Superintendent Michelle Webb for joining the Grade 4s as they jumped. A few prizes were handed out while the students jumped to encourage them to keep going and fulfill their pledge promise to jump.
Grade 6s jumped in their last jump rope at 12:30 and had a blast jumping with their friends in their final Jump Rope for Heart event. All of the students jumped and had a blast along with two local Wainwright Bison players Lucas McClennon and Karson Adams. Both of these players were former WES students so it was nice to have them come back to our school and give back. It was definitely a win-win for all involved.
Grade 5s finished off the jumping at 1:45 and in their hour of pledge jumping they had a fun time – long rope skipping and developing connections with friends. The Grade 5s were joined by six members of the CFB Wainwright Garrison Fire Department. Fire Chief Blair Sinclair, Rob Morden and Troy Currie did the jumping while Max Racette, Jordan Aldridge and Wayne Flotre cheered them on and worked the long ropes when the time came to jump. As well BTPS Director of Inclusive Learning and former WES teacher Crystal Tower joined us to cheer on the students and assist with handing out of bounty prizes.
RCMP Constable Mitch Gardipee was the hero (his hamstrings won’t think so the next day) of the day as he came out and jumped for all three sessions and was the leader of the Conga Line around the gym for the skippers. We are extremely grateful that Constable Gardipee joined us for the day. He brought a great skipping talent but his energy and enthusiasm was felt throughout the gym all day. Thank you, Constable!
Extra skipping incentive prizes were supplied by the Phys. Ed. Department and students were pumped to get a prize whether it was a skipping rope, WES water bottle (courtesy of WEPA) or other prizes supplied by the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Frisbees were also handed out to the fabulous skippers.
WES bounty prizes were handed out in the gym for all the students. It was sure nice to have everyone back in the gym excited for the prize giveaways.
Huge WES salute to the following partial sponsors Canadian Tire Wainwright, Wainwright Bowling Center and Armstrong’s Clothing and Sports.
Full sponsors of items were Sportfactor Inc. (Edmonton) Huxley Hockey Conditioning, Wainwright Golf Club, Mrs. Boxell WES Library and Mr. Mitchell Phys. Ed. Department.
Thank you to our secretarial staff (Mrs. Boychuk and Mrs, Wells), WES administration for their continued support of this worthwhile program in our school. Thank you to Mrs. Munn and Mrs. Chaulk for their continued leadership in assisting me with this project.
All in all a great day and super energy release for our students. Our students jumped their hearts out and not one complaint could be heard as we wrapped up our 34th Annual Jump Rope for Heart.
See you in the gym
Mr. Mitchell
