Schools

Manorhaven Milers Participate in Fun Run

Annual event helps to get kids moving.

More than 200 elementary school students participated recently in the Manorhaven Fun Run.

In it’s fourth year, the event tries to encourage physical fitness among Manorhaven School's fourth, fifth and sixth graders who participate in the Manorhaven Milers club.

Organizers say, the early morning Nov. 19 run was conducted to get the kids moving and their active juices flowing. Participants wore orange colored t-shirts and started with a quick warm-up led by Megaera Regan, the physical education teacher at Manorhaven.  

Find out what's happening in Port Washingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Each grade ran separately for 10 minutes with many parents were on hand to hand out water and cheer the runners on. Afterwards, orange slices were available to refresh the runners before returning back to classes.

“Seeing the children get excited about running and fitness in general tells us the program is working,” said Regan. “Studies show children are more alert and focused when they do just 20 minutes of physical activity before they start learning so we are committed to providing our students with a program that can help achieve this.”  

Find out what's happening in Port Washingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Manorhaven run was made possible by ING as the Manorhaven School is one of 59 recipients from 26 states across the U.S. to receive the ING Run for Something Better Grant of up to $2,500 to provide running programs for its students. 

School officials say, Manorhaven has designed a comprehensive program to help inspire istudents to make good fitness choices.  

Manorhaven Milers run during physical education class, recess and before school as part of the program. There is an incentive program for students to earn toe tokens for running miles during the school day and the Fun Run is a celebration of the students’ achievements since the school year began.

Regan added, “We are thrilled to have received the ING grant because it helps our kids discover running as a fun and easy way to increase physical activity and we are introducing them to activities that they will hopefully enjoy doing for a lifetime.”

“Healthy nutrition and consistent physical activity are important values we work to teach our students, said Bonni Cohen, Principal at Manorhaven School.  “It is wonderful to have the resources to help our school reinforce these values and teach our children how to lead healthy, active lives.”  

Grant awards were available in all states and the District of Columbia to elementary or middle schools for running programs that targeted kindergarten- through eighth-grade students. 

Nearly 300 schools applied for the 2013 ING Run For Something Better School Awards Program. An AAHPERD review board consisting of 80 teachers and education administrators reviewed all applications. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here