These have been happy days to be a Jefferson Primary School Jaguar. The school’s annual Turkey Trot was in full swing last week during physical education classes and everyone enjoyed an awful lot of fun.
Students decorated paper turkey necklaces a week earlier for use during the trot. The youngsters were given 15 minutes to run, jog or walk as many laps as they could around a 1/8 mile outdoor track.
Jefferson students loved this year's turkey trot
As students completed each lap, they navigated their way past physical education teachers Natalee Schaeffer or Karen Fischer for a “heart healthy” hole punch in their turkey necklace to help keep track of their progress; one-eighth of a mile at a time.
“The students were taught that four laps equals half a mile; eight laps equals a mile and 12 laps equals a mile and a half,” Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide said. “They were taught about pacing themselves during the 15 minute time frame to best utilize their energy.”
The youngsters also learned how running and exercise in general can benefit their cardiovascular health and how their bodies could handle a little Thanksgiving over-eating better with this exercise adventure.
More than 200 miles was covered by Jefferson’s athletic students during the 2022 turkey trot initiative. For the most part, the weather cooperated, making the experience that much better.
“Happy Thanksgiving to all,” Ms. Capitulo-Saide said.