By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
Anyone who watched the Detroit Lions vs. the Green Bay Packers game on December 3 might have noticed Lake Orion’s Pine Tree Elementary students dancing across the screen.
Not only were they featured in a video clip during halftime, they were shaking it with Lions? running back Joique Bell.
Students were dancing during their daily exercise routine November 13 when Bell made his surprise appearance, resulting in the 90 second video clip on CBS promoting health and wellness.
Students and teachers were ecstatic, and for a good reason. Pine Tree Elementary was one of five schools in the nation the National Football League (NFL) film crew featured during a game, selected for their unique, whole-school exercise regimen.
It was this exercise routine’fondly named Pine Tree Strong’that caught the NFL’s attention when organizing their five ‘NFL Play 60? themed games which began Thanksgiving Day.
Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school program launched by the NFL and the National Dairy Council focused on nutrition and physical activity. The whole idea is to get kids active 60 minutes a day while fueling their bodies with foods rich in nutritional content.
From Thanksgiving Day until December 3 each Lion’s game featured a different aspect of the program, with Pine Tree’s dance to Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) the finale to the series.
To watch the video, visit the Lake Orion Community Schools Facebook page, or the NFL’s website at www.nflfilmstv.com/Detroit_FUTPlay60_FinalSlate.mp4.
It all started two years ago when it was decided that Pine Tree Elementary needed its own health and wellness focus, which spearheaded the school-wide initiative.
Now after a year of incorporating daily exercise into the school day, teachers have reported a complete change in energy levels and focus during class.
After extensive research, kindergarten teacher Jen Heck and fifth grade teacher Pam Moreman, along with the rest of the staff, designed a health program based on activities promoted in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program.
Pine Tree officially launched their version in 2014, coining it Pine Tree Strong.
Using several of the same ‘plays?, or dietary and exercise ideas promoted in the NFL program, students are on the move.
Every morning for 10 to 15 minutes before classes start, students break a little sweat. One day could be aerobic, the next could be yoga, and the following strength. Walking Wednesdays are popular, using the new 1/8 mile track behind the school. Fridays, the day Bell joined in, are Fun Fridays, where a different class coordinates a dance sequence for all to follow along.
Students were in the midst of dancing, doing jumping jacks, push-ups and lunges when Bell snuck in November 13 while NFL film crews were capturing a typical Fun Friday.
Students knew the NFL was filming them for the 90-second health and awareness message played December 3, but they had no idea Bell would be in their midst.
‘When you see the video there is a great shot of when he [Bell] walks in. One of my fifth graders sees him and his jaw just drops, it’s just perfect,? Moreman said.
According to Moreman and Heck, Bell got pretty into it. He joined in the class dance, showed the kids how good kale smoothies are, coached several on their football passes and catches, and signed tons of autographs, all of which was featured in the 90 second clip.
‘He was teaching them his touchdown dance, and that they really need to play into it’you could tell that he has a love of kids. It wasn’t him just coming to fulfill a duty, he enjoyed being there,? Heck said.
Bell was just another fabulous reason to get students excited about exercising and healthy eating.
Since the program’s inception, Heck and Moreman agree that the teachers at Pine Tree can see a noticeable difference in their students? willingness to learn after their ‘brain-breaks.?
A brain-break is offered before tests or long assignments, to get the body going which in turn has helped with focus.
Teachers also do ‘food-brackets? where students try foods and narrow down their favorite fruit or vegetable to the final four. More of these fresh fruits and vegetables have been incorporated into the daily lunch menu, Heck said, giving students an opportunity to try stuff they may have never seen before.
‘A lot of the kids had never tasted a kiwi. The hope is they take this home and say, ‘hey mom, I tried a kiwi today and it was really good and I liked it,? Heck said.
It’s working. For one, teachers have noticed students bringing healthier snacks to school since the program started.
But perhaps an even larger accomplishment is the overall shift in attitude.
‘We noticed a change in the culture of our school,? Moreman said.
‘In their willingness to learn and focus when they’re given a task to do after they’ve done some physical activity,? Heck added.
Both Heck and Moreman have helped coordinate the program from the get-go, along with the rest of the Pine Tree staff who continuously look for new sponsors and ideas.
Because the program is mostly student-led, the staff has the task of making their ideas come alive through grants and other partnerships.
‘They’re coming up with ideas. They’re seeing issues in the school and noticing. The thing they want to do now is plant a school garden, so we have to somehow make it work,? Heck said, laughing. ‘It’s really cool to see some of the kids step up and be leaders. They’re not afraid to go to their principal and say these are the suggestions we have.?
The school’s next move is to prove it.
‘Our next step is to really figure out how. It’s so hard to get the statistics behind how this is really working, so that is one of our focuses. Collecting the data to really show how, because we’d love to get this out to the world.?
For more information on the Fuel Up to Play 60, visit their website at https://www.fueluptoplay60.com.