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Kids At Sunray Find Balance

Suncoast News photo by KLINT LOWRY

Fitness expert Teresa Tapp leads Sunray Elementary School students through the "Hoedown Showdown" recently held at the school.

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By KLINT LOWRY

klowry@suncoastnews.com

Published: January 1, 2009

HOLIDAY - As a registered nurse with Pasco County Schools, Melanie Hagerty knows firsthand that the stories we all hear about today's kids being out of shape are true.

"I see middle school kids who can't even bend over and touch their toes," Hagerty said.

So when Gov. Charlie Crist signed legislation in 2007 requiring elementary schools to include 150 minutes of physical education classes and other physical activity into curriculums, Hagerty was all for it. She had just the program for Sunray Elementary School, where she serves as school nurse.

This year, Sunray students have been doing TappCore, an exercise routine Tampa-based fitness expert Teresa Tapp created for schools.

Hagerty met Tapp at a nurse's conference and was impressed with the effects Tapp's exercise program had on her health. She said she thought the TappCore routine was just what the doctor - or, rather the governor - ordered.

"It's mental focus; it's confidence; it's kinetic awareness, it helps them get their balance, it helps them get their flexibility," Hagerty said.

Three months after introducing TappCore to staff and students, it has proved to be a schoolwide hit. Physical education teacher Barbara Dodson has joined Hagerty in her enthusiasm for the system after seeing changes in the students' physical well-being, behavior and concentration.

TappCore consists of a series of nine movements that engage both hemispheres of the brain, promoting better mental and physical coordination. The movements are low-impact and require only a little space for each student and no equipment, meaning they can be done anywhere, anytime.

It may not be physical education, but it is definitely physical, Dodson said. It takes practice to do the movements right. And when done right, the simple-looking movements can be exhausting.

"The first time I did it, after a couple minutes, I was like, 'c'mon, you call yourself a PE teacher?'

" she said.

One of the most gratifying aspects has been seeing the pride these students have exhibited as they have mastered the movements, Hagerty said. It has become competitive, as was evident when Tapp visited the school for the "Hoedown Showdown."

"Hoedown" is the name of one of the nine movements. The idea was that Tapp would lead the students in a round of exercise. The 12 who could do the movement in good form the longest would join Tapp in making a 30-minute recording that would become the school's exercise video.

But there were so many students determined to be a "TappCore Kid," that the students outlasted their class periods and 34 winners had to be declared.

To learn more about Tapp's workout systems, visit www.t-tapp.com.

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