Lynbrook Principal Mary McNamee receives a check for $1,000 from Eugene McKnight, area general manager of Sodexo. Sodexo in partnership with the Marine Corp Marathon granted money to the school’s P.E. department. Dominique Escalera/The Connection
“Oorah!” shouted the students from Lynbrook Elementary as the banner displaying their Health School Award was raised to its display height on the gymnasium wall.
About 311 Lynbrook students participated in the Marine Corp Marathon Kids Run in October, earning them the award of “Healthy School,” a check for $1,000 and the rock and roll nutrition show, Jump with Jill.
Physical education teacher, Jed Bobier, has organized for the kids to participate in the Kids Run for 10 years. “It started before I came here with Mr. Dexter, he was from a military family,” said Bobier. “We, as a school, have been trying to make it bigger and better every year.” Lynbrook encourages all kids, first grade and up, to run. “We take six school buses packed with kids, volunteers and parents into Washington D.C.” Bobier explains, “It’s quite a day.”
“We’ve run it every year since first grade,” said sixth grader Erika Turcios. Turcios and her friends, Cindy Gutierrez and Liliana Alvarenga have done the Kids Run five times. “We like it because it’s fun and we are representing Lynbrook when we can beat all the other schools,” said Gutierrez.
All three girls plan to volunteer to run with the school next year, even though they will be attending Key Middle School. “We always feel excited at the end,” said Alvarenga. “And we get a bag of food at the end.”
Sodexo is a sponsor for the MCM Kids Fun Run and hands out goody bags at the end of the race. “We want to initiate and support healthy eating and activities for kids in the community,” said Eugene McKnight, Sodexo area general manager.
Sodexo provided the school with a $1,000 check. According to Lynbrook Principal Mary McNamee, the check will go to new equipment and resources in the P.E. department. “In that way it will touch all the children and they will all benefit from it,” she said.
Lynbrook has won the Healthy School Award every year since 2001. The National Watermelon Promotion Board sponsored a healthy assembly with Jump with Jill, a nutrition education live concert.
“We have a high poverty rate and a very diverse community,” said McNamee, explaining the school’s focus to help grow the whole child, through education, community and healthy lifestyle. “We are delighted to teach the whole child and prepare them for life.”