Photos by Rome City Schools
Lots of laughter and enthusiastic students of all ages could be heard across East Central Elementary School’s campus chanting “EC GET FIT!” This past Friday, East Central hosted their annual Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) sponsored fundraiser, Get Fit EC! during the students’ designated activity time.
Get Fit Day is essentially an instructional period full of activities all students participate in with the overall goal of building teamwork among peers at East Central.
Hollye Smith, Get Fit EC! Coordinator explained the general concept of the program.
“The tag line for our Get Fit EC! event is ‘Fit Minds, Bodies and Attitudes.’ During their activity time, they have a team building component, which works not only to keep our bodies fit but also to really keep our attitudes fit. The physical component is working on fit bodies, and we work on keeping our minds fit all year long in class,” said Smith.
The activities students participated in were events like, keep the beach ball off of the ground, the tight rope game, and a warm-up activity used to break the ice and help students get to know their teammates.
“We have very special and very generous community partners who come in the day of the event and host these activities,” said Smith. “These community partners are Higher Ground, Floyd Medical Center, the YMCA, Pro Performance, Wright Athletics and Rome Athletic Club.”
Throughout the day, as well as throughout the fundraising period, students work to raise funds from their community. Each team raises money as a class to compete for special prizes. EC also offers individual prizes as well.
Class Prizes include:
-A/R Maker Mania and a Sno Cones
-Outside Team Adventure and Sno Cones
-Pie Mrs. Teems and Mr. Fit and an Ice Cream or Popcorn Party
-Sweet Frog Treats with Extra Recess Time
-Get Fit T-Shirt
-Chick-fil-a Treats and Extra Recess Time
The student who wins the Top Wolf prize can choose between a night on the town with a limo ride and a visit to Mellow Mushroom and Honeymoon Bakery or a Kindle 7 Tablet. The runner-up Wolf wins a night with the Rome Braves where they get to watch the game in a Braves Suite with a hot dog supper.
“This is a fundraiser but students are also getting the chance to be active,” said East Central Elementary School’s Principal Kristin Teems. “Get Fit Day is a very team-oriented notion. Activities focus on the idea that you can get more accomplished as a team. Our sponsors and PTO put a lot of work and effort into this day. We are just so excited for this event!” said Teems.
Smith said that, “Because this is a home-based, grassroots fundraiser, 100 percent of our profit from this event goes back to East Central. So, it supports the reading and math programs as well as our teachers in various ways. It’s just a fun experience for the kids and we absolutely love it!”
Along with the community partners mentioned above, Smith and Teems wanted to recognize the other generous community partners who donated or sponsored Get Fit EC! in various ways. These 26 sponsors are: Advance for Kids, Benjamin F. Edwards (Hunter, Smith & Wood), Chick-fil-a, Sweet Frog, Hi-Tech Signs, High Voltage Printing, Advanced Rehabilitation, Fisher Dentistry, A/R Workshop, Coosa Valley Credit Union, Smith & Miller Funeral Home, East Rome Animal Clinic, The Stoll Law Firm, Atlanta Allergy & Asthma, Linda and Jim Owens, Sheboygan Paint Company, CrossFit Rome, YMCA, Rome Braves, Higher Ground, Goo Goo Car Wash, Avery Drugs, Immersion Pools, Pro Performance, A&C Limousine and Culbreth, Carr and Watson Animal Clinic.
“We are very proud of what Get Fit EC! helps us to accomplish for all 574 students and staff as we promote fit minds, bodies, and attitudes.” said Smith. “We could not put on such a special event without the help of our community partners.”
East Central will continue to take pledge collections until October 19. They will host their Get Fit Assembly on October 26 where they will recognize all winners of the Get Fit EC! event.
