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Middle school students earn visit from Cheetah Girl
Published 2/26/2009 in News : Education
By MONICA SPRINGER
LEOTI — The room suddenly got quiet. Students in all grade levels sat still in the high school gymnasium in Wichita County.
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Laurie Sisk/Telegram — Sabrina Bryan teaches sixth-graders at Wichita County Junior High School a hip-hop routine Wednesday as part of their reward for winning the Healthy Kids Dance Challenge.
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Laurie Sisk/Telegram — Wichita County Junior High student body president and eighth-grader Bryce Nickelson accepts congratulations on behalf of the students as Vickie L. James, Healthy Kids Challenge Director and Sabrina Bryan look on Wednesday during an assembly.
"Is that her?" middle school students asked each other.
Finally, after months of waiting for the results of a national contest, Disney pop star Sabrina Bryan walked into the gym, smiling and waving at students and community members.
"She's here," students screamed as they pointed to the pop star and clapped.
Bryan is a member of the recording act The Cheetah Girls, as well as a star of the Disney Channel movies of the same name. She also was a contestant on "Dancing With the Stars."
Bryan's visit was Wichita County Junior High School's prize for winning a national contest, called Dance for Health, through Healthy Kids Challenge, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to preventing childhood obesity.
Challenges
Wichita County Junior High School students have faced challenges when it comes to exercising indoors. The school's gymnasium has been condemned because of structural problems, leaving students no place to exercise inside.
The middle school students raised the money to buy exercise equipment that they could use inside the classroom. They plan to buy soccer goals, geofitness mats, Nintendo Wii Fit systems, Frisbees and Twister games.
The school's Site Council, which is made up of parents and teachers, found out about the contest through the Western Kansas Community Foundation.
To enter the contest, students raised $3,908.55 in about a week by asking local businesses and community members for donations. Then, the school hosted a dance-a-thon in October, which was a requirement of the contest.
Wichita County Junior High School students raised more money through the contest than any other school. The prize was additional money for fitness equipment and a visit from Bryan.
Dawn McKinney, principal of grades K-8, said she wasn't surprised when her students raised the most money.
"The kids have a really good work ethic," McKinney said.
More than 200 schools entered the contest. The junior high school students beat out other top contestants, including schools in New York and St. Louis.
"It's a huge thing for this small town," said Sheri Loy, a member of the school's Site Council and mother of a junior high student.
Students ShayReah Loy, Shania Lane and Tailar Bremer, all in the seventh grade, are cheerleaders at the junior high school. The cheerleading squad received Bryan's fitness dance video last week and rehearsed two hours each day. The squad performed two dances in front of Bryan and other students.
Loy said she didn't expect Bryan to come to Leoti.
"It's a big shock to all of us," Loy said.
Healthy habits
Bryan had a message she delivered to students. State assessments are next week, and students will receive better grades if they eat breakfast before the tests.
"Breakfast keeps your body going," Bryan told the packed gymnasium.
Bryan is the national spokeswoman for the Healthy Kids Challenge. The message she delivered told students to eat right, exercise and have fun while doing both.
"It's about keeping your body healthy," she said.
All grade levels listened as Bryan introduced herself, talked about her dance fitness video, "BYOU," and answered questions.
Then sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade classes spent about 30 minutes with her, asking more questions and learning a dance routine.
Students separated into six lines in front of Bryan, then copied every dance move she made.
"Kick forward, step, step," Bryan showed the students.
They followed.
"Bounce over and bounce and over again," she continued. "Kick forward, step, step."
Through the questions students asked, they learned that Bryan's favorite thing about her fame is traveling. For Cheetah Girl movies, Bryan traveled to Spain and India. She lives in Los Angeles. After she talked and danced with middle school students in Leoti, she flew back to L.A. to prepare for a photo shoot for TV Guide today.
Bryan said the fact that students in Leoti raised money for indoor fitness equipment speaks volumes to their character.
"It says a lot about their leadership," Bryan said. "The parents are doing a great job at home to encourage that leadership."
On the Web:
Healthy Kids Challenge: http://www.healthykidschallenge.com/
Found 1 comment(s)!
Middle school students earn visit from Sabrina Bryan
OMG this is cool article that i have not seen from Sabrina. She is such a great role model!
Posted by: Brenda on 4/18/2009
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