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Enhancing health at Helman By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings Helman Elementary School students are trading in their after-school lounge time for a heart-pumping round of exercise. "One time, we ran around the track and I was the first one to get in three times in a row," second grader Max Heine said. "I like being first." Heine, along with more than a dozen of his schoolmates, joined the "Be A Fit Kid" after school program, created by Jennifer Slawta, a Southern Oregon University physical education instructor. Slawta is helping Helman youths learn the importance of eating right and exercising through a program that centers on reaching personal goals while having fun. "Rather than competing with each other, they have their own goals. We're trying to get them to become competitive with themselves," Slawta said, noting the program is free and open to all students interested in improving their health. Third grade Helman student Emily Gaddis said that she likes to run but sometimes gets tired. The program allows her to chart her own progress. "It's not really a race. You're just seeing how well you can do," Gaddis said. Slawta said the program originated last spring at Orchard Hill Elementary located in Phoenix. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Orchard Hill students would gather for an afternoon filled with activities like ice skating, running, hiking, yoga and games. "We learned a lot at the first school about what they like and we learned that they get bored with the same routine," Slawta said. "The main thing with kids is to keep them moving while keeping it fun. We try to do different things, otherwise they won't be enthused." After three months at Orchard Hill, students were able to improve their mile times, lower their saturated fat and body fat. The program is now operating at Helman from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. three days a week - with the aid of several SOU students, an Ashland High student and a nurse practitioner - and Slawta hopes to see Helman students reap similar health improvements. To chart their progress, Helman students had a lipid and glucose screening at the beginning of the program - sponsored by Rogue Valley Medical Center - and will be tested again at the end to see how each student's body responded to a regular fitness routine. "We want to look at changes," Slawta said. And while exercise is a large part of the program, so is exposing the students to healthy foods. Slawta brings in a variety of donated foods to sample including; humus, lean bean burritos, salmon with non-fat yogurt and dill, and even tofu. "The food tastes better I think, and it's better for you," Gaddis said. Heine said the program is helping him to eat healthier. "Even in the summer when there are no holidays, I had tons of candy," Heine said, noting he is now paying more attention to the food he eats. While some students want to improve their fitness or eating habits, others like Helman third grader Marissa McLain, just want to build strength. "I wanted to grow stronger because most people say I'm weak. And I'm not," McLain said. The program will conclude at Helman by spring break. After that, Slawta hopes to move on to another local school interested in helping students understand the benefits of health. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -