Taking the Challenge in 2026

Happy New Year, everyone! At Mid-Pacific Elementary School, students are kicking off the 2026 semester with Kids’ Heart Challenge pledges for the American Heart Association. They have committed to making healthy food choices, being kind, and staying active to promote healthy lifestyles. The school has partnered with the American Heart Association to teach students various ways to maintain heart health, support heart research, and help those with heart conditions. During physical education classes, we have been learning different ways to stay healthy and fit through jumping and basketball-related activities in preparation for Heart Month.

Kindergarten through 2nd graders are practicing basic jump rope skills with short ropes, learning to let the rope hit the ground before jumping, and using wrist snaps for consistency. They’re mastering simple patterns like the single bounce, skier, and bell jumps to develop quick, light-footed movements. Some students have challenged themselves with backward and criss-cross jumping patterns using their feet and hands as well. The game of helicopter helped students gain the timing and tracking of jumping over moving objects. Team activities include ABC challenges with long and Chinese ropes and partner short rope patterns to foster teamwork and pattern recognition. Core strength and coordination are reinforced by learning to use the hula hoop around their hips, arms, and feet. Recently, basic basketball dribbling patterns were introduced, allowing students to practice dribbling with their fingertips while keeping their eyes up to see defenders and the basketball hoop.

For 3rd through 5th graders, the focus is on more advanced jump rope skills. Students are mastering tricks like criss-cross, double-under, and X-jumps. Many are creating partner routines and integrating short and long rope jumps. A handful of students are beginning to gain confidence in performing successful double-dutch entries and turns with long ropes. In basketball, they emphasize dribbling with fingertips, maintaining eye contact, using chest and bounce passes, and employing the BEEF method for shooting. As their skills improve, these students are transitioning to lead-up activities like dribble knockout, school, and shooting knockout, eventually progressing to regular basketball games. Some have been gaining confidence with two-ball dribbling patterns, demonstrating the importance of using both the right and left hands equally to maneuver the basketball court in different directions and situations. The progression of reviewing proper dribbling and shooting techniques has led to mini-games of 1 vs 1 king/queen of the court and cat-and-mouse games that allow students to be creative in scoring against defenders.

All grade levels were excited to review the inclusive game of Gaga Ball. Gaga Ball allows students to get into an athletic position to jump and avoid a moving ball that is struck using an underhand motion. Many students realized they could use their locomotor skills—sliding, jumping, and galloping—to help them maneuver effectively in the Gaga Ball Pit.

We were also able to get a new piece of equipment called Blazepods through our Owls for Owls grant program this year. Blazepods are reaction light technology that gives instant feedback to students performing speed, agility, and reaction drills using various locomotor and motor skills in different directions. Teamwork, strategy, and communication were evident as students executed tapping the different light colors for their teams.

Reminders:

• Kids’ Heart Challenge Week is scheduled for February 13.
  • Preschool will be in stations from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. on the elementary play court.
  • Kindergarten through grade 5 will be in stations in Mills Gym from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Regular athletic shoes must be worn in Mills Gym (No Crocs or boots).
• Please bring your water bottle.