Dear Parent/Guardian,
Your student will have a chance to participate in this year’s American Heart Association (AHA) Kids Heart Challenge event. AHA uses events like this to help fund heart disease and stroke research throughout the country, including research completed at Jackson Laboratory. This is the 18 year that Ellsworth Schools have participated in this event. We are incredibly proud to have raised in excess of $80,000 over the past 17 years. Included with this letter is this year’s fundraising envelope. Fundraising is completely optional! If you decide to participate, please simply follow the instructions on the envelope.
This year’s Kids Heart Challenge will be held during normal physical education classes. The activities will be of the cardiovascular variety (with an emphasis on jump rope skills) in which their heart rates will increase and their breathing rates will increase as well. Special attention will be given to mask breaks as we understand that wearing masks and strenuous cardiovascular activities is difficult.
We are also looking for adults or children to share their experience with the effects of heart disease and stroke. If you know someone you would like to nominate as one of our “Heart Heros'', please email me at dnorwood@ellsworthschools.org. In the past, we have invited guest speakers to attend our event to share with children their experiences with heart disease or stroke. The pandemic has changed that tradition. We would still like very much if families shared their stories via email. All you have to do is type a short description of how heart disease or stroke has affected your family and send it to me. I will read those stories to kids during physical education class. In the past we have had students, grandparents and teachers volunteer to become Heart Heros. It is so important to carry on this beautiful Heart Hero tradition.
Yours in Good Health,
Mr. Norwood