Children Jump at Chance to Demonstrate Fitness

Forget about the kids across the country who were about to exercise simultaneously. Just organizing 540 squirming kindergartners through sixth-graders in Thousand Oaks was enough for Jane Clancy to handle.

Bullhorn in hand, the Glenwood Elementary physical education specialist attempted to get her school in sync with the national fitness program called Project ACES.

The program, begun by a pair of teachers in New Jersey in 1989 to promote the benefits of exercise, has been practiced in Ventura County--with about 10,000 schoolchildren--since 1992. The name stands for All Children Exercising Simultaneously.

At precisely 10 a.m. Wednesday, the school playground was a sea of mop tops, bouncing out of order to the commands barked by Clancy and her older student helpers.

Jogging in place was mostly standing in place among the bewildered 5-year-olds. For the I’m-too-cool-for-this sixth-grade boys, the warmup degenerated into shadowboxing and body slamming.

The third-graders were most energetic, kindergartners the cutest. But it was the girls across all grades who were the most diligent, giving the sixth-grade boys something else to tease about.

“It was hard to get everyone’s attention and my helpers didn’t have a clue,” Clancy said. “Other than that, it worked. I saw some teachers out there running and stretching, which is good.”

Trevor Mustin, 8, said he likes to exercise.

“It’s fun when you do wacky things,” the third-grader said. “But sometimes it’s hard when you try to do push-ups with one hand.”

At 11, Bryon Garcia is already thinking about his future health.

“Exercise is important so when you get older you’ll be able to do more stuff,” the sixth-grader said. “Plus, it’s good for your heart.”

Principal Pam Chasse said besides promoting good health, exercise helps students develop in school.

“If you’re successful on the playground, you’re successful in the classroom,” Chasse said. “That’s where the whole social thing starts.”