EVERETT — Twenty-six View Ridge Elementary School students sat on the gym floor, their laptop screens creating a moonlight-like illumination of their faces.
Only one thing stood in the way of them signing up for a program that entitles them to a wristwatch-sized electronic device that monitors their activity.
They had to log in to the Gear Up &Go! program. Fitness teacher Jan Anderson patiently guided them through the process, which involved creating a user name and password, then adding their parent’s email address. The students raised their hands above their heads as, one-by-one, they were able to sign on.
“It’s done, sweet!” said Jack Zaffarano, 10. “I did it!”
The View Ridge students are among 10,000 fifth-graders in Snohomish County getting a chance to see if they can increase their activity levels this school year. The goals of Gear Up &Go! are reducing childhood obesity and encouraging physical activity.
Students in 15 school districts are strapping on the monitors, called Sqord PowerPods. The monitors don’t track a student’s location, only the time and intensity of the activity. Parents must sign a permission slip for students to participate.
The more active kids are, the more points they earn. Students can monitor their points through a computer program at school or, with new Bluetooth technology available this year, on tablet or smartphone apps.
“It’s a motivator to be more active to get higher points,” Anderson said. She and her fifth-grade students participated in the program last year, too.
At night, students can get on their home computers and compare their progress from previous days or to other students in class, she said.
Karen Setterberg, 11, said she’s excited about participating in the program, even though she said she would rate her previous activity levels as “kinda low, not so active.”
“I like jumping around and running,” she said as she raced off to recess.
Gadi Zesati, 11, participated in the program last year as part of a mixed class of fourth- and fifth-graders. “It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “We get to keep track of how active you can be. You can be in competition with people. It keeps me healthy.”
Elle Vorderbruggen, 11, also participated last year. “It was fun,” she said, “It’s like you get to challenge people.”
The PowerPods are provided free to schools. The program was launched last year by the Snohomish County Health Leadership Coalition, a group that includes representatives from local businesses, social service agencies, nonprofits, education, health care and the faith community.
The cost of this year’s program, including hardware, technology and communications, is estimated at $300,000. The program is sponsored by the Boeing Co., Premera Blue Cross, Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, Providence General Foundation, Verdant Health, Puget Sound Kidney Centers, the Washington Biotech &BioMedical Association, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Everett Clinic, Precor and the YMCA of Snohomish County.
Research has shown that children’s activity levels begin to decline as they advance through elementary school, although there isn’t much information on why.
“The goals are to increase activity rates and to reverse the downward trajectory that starts in fourth grade for activity,” said Carly Kaufman, a program manager for Gear Up &Go!
The program has received a three-year federal grant of $495,557 to help determine what factors make participation at some schools higher than others — in short, what’s encouraging physical activity, Kaufman said. The research will be conducted by the University of Washington’s Northwest Center for Public Health Practice.
The school districts participating in the program are Arlington, Darrington, Edmonds, Everett, Granite Falls, Index, Lake Stevens, Lakewood, Marysville, Monroe, Mukilteo, Northshore, Snohomish, Stanwood-Camano and Sultan.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
