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Neshannock pupils tape fitness video with Leslie Sansone
Charged like a new 9-volt battery, students at Neshannock Memorial Elementary School were on the move.
There was good reason for the excitement.
Pumped up and spurred on by local fitness expert Leslie Sansone of Walk Productions, grades 1 through 6 not only were getting fit, they also were taping a fitness video for in-school use.
As magically as a pumpkin was turned into Cinderella’s coach, the gym was converted into a pseudo television studio. With area videographers ducking in and out of walking-in-place students, television monitors, microphones on a boom, cameras, lights, revved-up music and a big screen that projected images of ongoing action, this school-wide venture stirred up energy in large doses.
Fun was the way Kelly Cournan, 10, described time spent during the morning session. Each grade had its 15 minutes of fame in the morning and afternoon, too.
Kelly, who plays soccer, likes exercising and the steady walking hadn’t caught her out of breath.
Her classmate, Grant Weaver, liked “going backward and forward.”
But jumping jacks are his favorite activity involving exertion.
Fourth-grade teacher Sandy Giordano said the children looked forward to filming the video.
“I think it’s absolutely wonderful and we’re integrating gym into the classroom,” Giordano said. “A lot of children were not active and now they are becoming more active, and this is fun to do with friends.”
Once edited, one portion of the tape can be used in individual classrooms when students can’t go outside for recess or at the discretion of the teacher, said school nurse, Patty Kardambikis, Ph.D.
“Every classroom will have the video.”
She commended an exuberant Sansone, who marched in place along with the students, for donating the equipment, time and crew.
“This is all teamwork,” Kardambikis assessed.
Physical education instructor Mindy Nichols said 20 students were chosen to be in a special 10-minute segment.
“Kids need to be up and moving,” Nichols said.
Hands shot in the air as Sansone directed, “Reach ’em up, reach ’em up.” That was followed by a clap and a walk.
As the fourth graders wrapped up, there were commendations from the leader. “Nice job, I’m proud of you.”
In between sessions, she remarked that Neshannock’s fitness video could be a model for other districts.
“I’m hoping other schools will see this and create their own customized version featuring their own students and hopefully, this will inspire students to exercise at home.”
Fifth graders assembled on the dance floor, moving from side to side and back and forth. As the music slid from one upbeat song to another, the students occasionally pulled their knees to chest. It was 15 continuous minutes of exercise without stopping. A bonus was watching themselves on the big screen.
“You are so good,” Sansone encouraged. “You look fantastic. Walk, walk, walk. You did it. That was exactly what we needed.”
Afterwards, Gabby Matarazzo, 10, said she was excited about the video “because I’d never been on TV before.”
The music appealed to Sam Prothero, 11, who said it made him want to exercise more. Sam swims a lot at the competitive level.
The music and aerobic combination was a hit with Alex Welker, too. Alex, 11, keeps busy with sports including football, baseball, basketball and golf.
“We’re combining the educational aspects with physical fitness with students’ well being,” principal Matt Heasley said. “It’s teaching the whole child.”
Moving and music — a good, healthy match.
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