Indus School will conduct its first 5K run on Earth Day, April 22. The “We’re In It for the Long Run!” event will begin with check-in at noon and with the run beginning at 1 p.m.
The run coincides with the conclusion of the Active Schools Minnesota pilot study in which Indus has participated for the past three years.
Indus is one of 15 schools in Minnesota which received a grant to participate in the Active Schools Minnesota pilot study, an initiative created through the Statewide Health Improvement Program and the federal Community Transformation Grant to focus on increasing physical activity opportunities for school-aged youth. The Minnesota Department of Education and Minnesota Department of Health collaborated on developing a study which would support increasing physical activity opportunities for students during and outside the school day.
As reported by MDE, studies have shown a strong relationship between physical activity and learning, but there is limited Minnesota data; therefore, the study attempts to show a relationship between increased physical activity and the impact on education and activity outcomes.
According to Indus physical education and health instructor Melody Nelson-Swenson, the pilot study was done with students in fourth through sixth grades, but she carried the concepts throughout all of her classes. Pilot study schools conducted physical fitness measurements with a program called FitnessGram, testing five different parts of health-related fitness, including aerobic capacity; muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility; and body composition.
Assessment of the program is still taking place for fourth through sixth graders.
High school physical education students have also benefited from the FitnessGram program, however, increasing their physical activity, aerobic capacity, etc. during gym classes.
When it was suggested that Indus host a 5K, Nelson-Swenson was onboard with the idea so that her students would have something to aim for. “It was great that it worked out that the 5K could be held as an incentive finale for students and could coincide with doing a schoolwide event,” Nelson-Swenson stated.
Anyone interested in participating in the 5K may call 218-634-2425 to register.
