More than exercise: Lessons in heart, health and helping others

In the middle of a busy school day, between math lessons and reading groups, Bloomsburg Memorial Elementary students are learning something just as important as academics: how to take care of their hearts and how to help others do the same. It’s a lesson built on movement, empathy, and the simple idea that even young students can make a meaningful difference.

Under the direction of physical education teacher Miranda Pell, students in kindergarten through fifth grade are participating in the Kids Heart Challenge, a program supported by the American Heart Association. The initiative blends physical activity, health education, and service learning, teaching students lifelong wellness habits while raising funds to support heart research.

The Kids Heart Challenge, formerly known as Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart, has evolved into a comprehensive program that engages students in learning about heart health while encouraging compassion and generosity. Through interactive lessons and age-appropriate mission characters, students gain knowledge about making healthy choices and helping others, especially kids with special hearts.

Throughout the program, students are learning about health-related missions, including Choose Water, Move More, Eat Smart, Be Kind, Sleep More, and Avoid Tobacco and Vaping. Students 9 years or older can learn how to perform Hands-Only CPR correctly, and younger students will benefit from knowing how to find an adult, call 911, and identify an AED when an emergency arises.

Mrs. Pell brings 11 years of experience working with the program at her former school and has seen firsthand how it has grown and adapted over time. That experience helped shape Memorial’s program, which officially began with a kickoff assembly on January 16 and now features “more resources for teachers and more of a holistic health program,” according to Pell.

Students may choose to participate in collecting donations that support heart research. Those who do will join the Lifesavers League and can earn level-based prizes. The school can also gain new physical education equipment, benefits that reinforce the program’s focus on student wellness.

In addition, students who collect a donation, make a donation themselves, and watch an educational video about heart health earn a Heart Hero’s cape they can wear to school. The cape is a fun and visible symbol of the program’s core message: learning, caring, and giving are powerful actions at any age.

The emphasis on helping others has resonated strongly with Memorial students and families. After just the first week of the program, students had already raised over $3,000 in donations.

This year’s Kids Heart Challenge carries special meaning for the Memorial community through the program’s video story of Finn, a student who has undergone 18 heart-related surgeries. Recognized as a Heart Hero, this student inspired the school to adopt “Finn’s Mission” as the title for its collective goal, helping students connect the program’s lessons to a real and personal example from another school.

The Kids Heart Challenge will conclude with a wrap-up assembly on Friday, February 13. During the assembly, students will announce the total amount collected and celebrate the bonus prizes earned. More importantly, they will celebrate the knowledge gained and the understanding that healthy choices and helping others are habits worth building, both in school and beyond.