Jump Rope for Heart 2013!

Jump Rope for Heart 2013!Happy New Year, TCKS families!Event Date: Friday, February 1st, 2013It’s time for our annual Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser event. This is the one of the few times we, as the entireTCKS school community, collect money for something other than our school. We chose to support theAmerican Heart Association because heart disease is the number one killer of Americans and touches all of ourfamilies and friends. In addition to benefitting past, present and future heart care patients, these donations comeback to our community in the form of research money, and our school receives educational materials from theAHA.The accompanying envelope contains all the information regarding donations to the American HeartAssociation. Collecting donations for the AHA is the choice of each student/family.Across the nation Jump Rope for Heart events are run many different ways. At TCKS we choose to jump duringthe school day and involve all students in the jumping part of the program. Below is the schedule for Jump Ropefor Heart on Friday, February 1st, 2013. (Please send students to school with gym shoes that day!)9:30 -10:15 2 nd & K (Le)10:30 -11:15 4 th & K (Topolski)12:05 -12:50 1 st1:05 - 1:50 5 th & K (Dorlac)2:05 - 2:50 3 rd & K (Fusaro)“Home is Where the Heart Is!” What Makes Your Heart Happy? Contests. Each year, in addition to all theother contests going on at our Jump Rope for Heart events, we have a specially-themed “heart” contest tohighlight a part of the program and provide an artistic outlet for students. This year the “heart” contest is“Home is Where the Heart Is!” What makes your heart happy? Prizes will be given in the followingcategories:• “Home is Where the Heart Is!” poster• “Home is Where the Heart Is!” comic• “Home is Where the Heart Is!” poem• “Home is Where the Heart Is!” on a t shirt• Smallest “Home is Where the Heart Is!”• Biggest “Home is Where the Heart Is!”• “Home is Where the Heart Is!” made ofLegos• “Home is Where the Heart Is!” sculpture• “Home is Where the Heart Is!” action figure(i.e. Barbie, GI Joe)Students are not required to participate in the heart contest, but if they choose to they may enter more than onecategory but win only one prize. There will be two prizes awarded in each category (if there are two deservingentries). Prizes will not be awarded for groups of people wearing the same clothing, and we strongly discouragegroups dressing alike as it is creating uncomfortable situations regarding who is “in” the group and who is not.Speed Jump During the jump time for each grade level some students will be involved in a 10 second speedjumping contest. Details have been worked out and practiced in class. The top speed jumper and her/his teamwill receive a small prize.

Jammin’ Jump Judges will be wandering and watching throughout the jumping periods to spy “Jammin’Jumpers” demonstrating good form from fundamental “flop and hop” kindergartners to “backward crisscrossing”older students.Donations The fundraising part of Jump Rope for Heart is a TCKS community service project. This is the oneof the few times we, as an entire school community, collect money for something other than our school.Students should bring their donation checks and/or on-line donation report sheets in their envelopes tothe gym on the day of the event.On-Line Donations (preferred) Your child may collect donations—every little bit helps—either in thecollection envelopes or online at www.Americanheart.org/jump. Print your online receipt and put it in yourenvelope to bring to school on JRFH Day. Please note: The permission slip only needs to be signed andreturned if your child is participating in the online donation program.New incentives!!!!• Send 10 emails by Jan. 25th and get a “smelly pencil”• Top fundraiser from each class gets to bring a buddy to a special after school “Gym Jam” (open activity)with Mr. HuntEmployee Matching Funds Many companies offer matching donations for the AHA. You can check at yourwork location or at http://www.matchinggifts.com/aha (this list is not all-inclusive).Combining Donations Students have asked me if one or more people can combine donations in order toreceive some of the higher end thank you gifts. Students may do this, but I would suggest that no more than twostudents pool their donations and they have a clear understanding of how they want to divide the thank you giftsso there are no arguments. If you are combining donations please submit all the donations in ONE envelopewith ONE name on it. The thank you gifts will be delivered to the person whose name is on the envelope.Volunteers We always need volunteers to help us judge contests, set up, etc., especially in the upper grades. Ican also use help setting up in the morning (8:30 am) if you can help before work.Questions E-mail Brenda Kosmos brendakosmos@hotmail.com, or Chris Hunt at: chunt@psdschools.orgThank you for supporting your child, school, and the American Heart Association!We raised $14, 603 last year and this year’s donation goal is $15,000! In addition to helping a great cause,this will earn us a minimum of $800 in PE equipment for our kids! Please help us achieve our goal!!!Sincerely, “Coach” Hunt3 Tips on cardio health:1) Know your numbers: cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, familyhistory & exercise hours!2) Balance inputs (calories) and outputs (exercise)!3) Americanheart.org for more about heart disease, stroke and riskfactors!