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Jump Rope for Heart at Chesapeake Montessori School

The students at Chesapeake Montessori School celebrated National Heart Month by jumping rope and learning about heart health.

Students were recently jumping for the chance to help raise money for heart health awareness at the Chesapeake Montessori School. Approximately 50 kids participated in the Jump Rope for Heart program in which they gathered sponsors and donations and then jumped rope for as long as they could.

Coach Joan Garcia has been teaching Physical Education for 20 years and knows the importance of heart health. "We've been celebrating National Heart Month and I've done the jump rope activity every day in P.E.," said Garcia. "The people at Jump Rope for Heart also got involved and sent us music and jump ropes."

Jump Rope for Heart is a program designed by the American Heart Association especially for school-age children to help raise money for crucial research to combat and eventually cure all types of heart disease. It gives them a voice and a way to make a difference, while having fun and being active at the same time.

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Many of the students arrived right at the beginning of the event and stayed for the full two hours. The excitement was contagious, as even some of the parents got involved in the jumping fun.

"I'm so happy with the way the event turned out," said Garcia, who has been at the Chesapeake Montessori School for a year. "It was my first time running it and Deborah Bricker, Head of the School, even stopped by and said it was a complete success."

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The students were beaming as the event ended and they headed out to their cars with their families. Many thanked Coach Garcia and gave her a hug.

"This is truly my dream job," said Garcia, who taught at public schools in Texas before coming to Maryland. "This is the best school I've worked for and the kids are just so responsive. I plan to introduce new thinking games to challenge them."

For participant Noah, the Jump Rope for Heart activity was especially exciting because he only learned to jump rope the week before. "I had a lot of fun," he said, and then asked the coach if he could keep a jump rope. Garcia allowed him to take a donated rope and a suprised Noah asked, "I can keep it forever?" She told him he could and he happily skipped off.

Garcia takes great pride in helping students to reach their full potential. She enjoys teaching kids like Noah and looks forward to next year's Jump Rope for Heart event.

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