It has been an action-packed stretch in the gym at Warren Elementary! Between preparing for and celebrating our big fundraiser, exploring exciting equipment, and tracking our fitness growth, our kindergarteners have been moving, learning, and having a blast.
Jog-A-Thon Celebrations & Gratitude
A huge CONGRATULATIONS to all of our amazing kindergarten runners! Every single class gave their best effort during our annual Jog-A-Thon. Leading up to the big day, students practiced essential jogging cues—pacing themselves, pumping their arms in a capital "L," landing softly on their "ninja feet," and taking deep breaths ("smell the flowers, blow out the candle"). That practice paid off with incredible endurance, huge smiles, and wonderful sportsmanship all around.
A sincere thank you to our parents, families, and SEPO volunteers who cheered on our runners, helped count laps, and supported the fundraiser. All funds raised directly support our students by funding:
- Memorable school-wide experiences and presentations
- Upcoming student field trips
- Brand-new, exciting PE equipment for our gym!
Fitness Growth & The PACER Test
Our kindergarteners recently completed their first of three PACER tests for the school year! We are so proud of the focus, stamina, and heart every student demonstrated. A special shout-out to our top performance of the round: an incredible 155 laps!
Alongside our running, students have been working hard on body control, core strength, and balance through fun fitness challenges like jumping jacks, "rocket blast-offs," planks, and our single-leg flamingo balance challenge.
Skills, Games & Equipment Exploration
Over the past several weeks, gym classes have been filled with high-energy activities designed to build motor skills, teamwork, and coordination:
- Locomotor Movement & Agility: Students focused on rhythm and balance while adding skipping and galloping to their movement toolkit, navigating space with partners in our "Far & Away" activity.
- Scooter Boards & Hoppers: Students explored balance, steering, and lower-body strength using scooter boards, animal hoppers, and bungee jumpers.
- Gym Favorites:
- Giant Parachute & Obstacle Course: Practicing cooperative teamwork, spatial awareness, and full-body agility.
- Tag & Team Games: Developing communication and quick decision-making through high-energy games like Dog Pound, Clean Up Your Room, and Fire & Ice Tag.
- Brain Breaks: Burning off extra energy and grooving to interactive movement dances with favorites like Laurie Berkner and Danny Go!
Halloween Mission: Saving the World's Candy Supply!
To wrap up the week right before Halloween, our gym transformed into a high-stakes rescue mission! The evil Oogie Boogie appeared in the gym with a dastardly scheme: he set up a battery of rockets armed with candy worm eggs (colored gym cones topped with giant cotton balls). His villainous plan was to launch them high into the atmosphere, where they would hatch, rain down across the globe, and decimate the entire world's candy supply just in time for Halloween.
Fortunately, the heroic kindergarteners of Warren Elementary were on duty. Led by Coach Q, our students launched a rapid-fire offensive assault! Arming themselves with "giant gumballs" (colored dodgeballs), students showed off incredible throwing accuracy and teamwork, knocking the worm eggs straight off the launchpads and stopping the countdown. Thanks to their bravery and great aim, Oogie Boogie’s plot was foiled, and Halloween was officially saved!
Thank you for continuing to support active, healthy habits at home!
