called a great success

From September 8 through October 31, the students and faculty of Bladen County Schools took a walk for "SURVIVAL".

All "SURVIVING ADVENTURERS" walked to achieve one of the five challenging levels of achievement, gaining the ultimate "tools for survival" along the way. During this physical activity campaign, WALK 2003: Survival of the Fit, sponsored by HealthWatchers At School, a program of Bladen HealthWatch, 2,763 of Bladen County School's students and 142 of Bladen County School's staff walked a combined total of over 75,749 miles.

HealthWatchers At School is one of 16 projects funded by the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust in conjunction with Duke University Medical Center as part of Project SELF Improvement. The program's focus is to reduce future rates of chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes by improving students' nutritional habits, increasing physical activity, and decreasing levels of tobacco use.

Bladen County's rate of these chronic diseases is dangerously elevated, especially when many cases are preventable due to the positive lifestyle and behavioral changes encouraged by HealthWatchers At School.

During the Survival Walking Campaign, students and staff gained recognition and incentives for reaching participation milestones. Students walking at least 25 miles received a Compass Key Ring; those walking 50 miles received a Survivor Jump Rope; those walking 75 miles received a Survivor Radio; those walking 100 miles received a Survivor Flashlight/Fan; and, those walking 150 miles received a "I Survived" T-shirt.

Top student survivors at each school were awarded a new pair of Walking shoes, and top staff survivors at each school were awarded a "I Survived" T-shirt and a Bladen HealthWatch Pedometer. CD Walkmans were awarded to the top student walkers in Bladen County at each level (elementary, middle, and high) and to the top staff walker in the county.

In addition, classrooms were encouraged to walk together during the school day to achieve walking milestones. These classroom milestones and incentives were as follows: 500 miles received "I Survived" pencils and 1,000 miles received Survivor Calculators.

In addition, the top classroom at each school received a "Survivor" Frozen Yogurt Social catered by the Front Porch Restaurant and the top classroom in the county also received a "Survivor" Subway Sandwich Party.

The school with the most miles was recognized with a banner, and the schools with the highest percentage of students participating were named the Golden Sneaker Award winners and received a special plaque and banner.

All schools in the county participated in this Survival Walking campaign. Countywide, approximately 705 students logged 25 or more miles and 49 classrooms collectively logged over 500 miles during the two-month campaign. Bladenboro Primary logged the most miles with students and staff walking over 15,156 miles. Bladenboro Primary and the School of Extended Hope received the Golden Sneaker Award, having had 100% of its students participate in the walking campaign. What a GREAT Success!

Walking shoes were given to the following students for walking the most miles at each school: Kayla Norris at Dublin; Ivan Garcia at Plainview; Rodrigo Mota at East Arcadia; Kianna Carpenter at Bladenboro Primary; Casey Burney at Booker T. Washington; Daisha Johnson at Bladen Lakes Primary; Robert Phillips at Bladenboro Middle; Carolyn Wright at Elizabethtown Middle; Shaina Webster at West Bladen High School; Trista Lanier at Extended Hope; and, Brittany Dockery at Clarkton School of Discovery.

The following staff members received T-shirts and pedometers for walking the most miles at each school: Penny Guyton at Dublin; Sharon Samuels at Plainview; Linda Miller at East Arcadia; Gwenella Ellis at Bladenboro Primary; Kathy McEwen at Booker T. Washington; LeRoy Henderson at Tar Heel; Jo Ann Melvin at Bladen Lakes; Barbara Atkinson at Bladenboro Middle; Melinda Long at Elizabethtown Middle; Patty Evers at East Bladen; Ronald Autry at West Bladen; Phillip Penny at Extended Hope; and Theresa Wuebbels at Clarkton School of Discovery.

Top walkers for their respective school levels in the county included: Carlton McDowell of Elizabethtown Primary who walked 348 miles; Brittany Futrell of Tar Heel Middle School who walked 560 miles; and Mark Quinton of East Bladen High School who walked 189 miles.

The top staff walker for the entire county was Pamela McDowell from Elizabethtown Primary School who logged 392 miles during the two-month campaign.

These three students and one staff walkers received CD walkmans for their accomplishments at the county level as well as the incentives for achieving the most miles at their respective schools.

Not only did Bladen County students achieve success individually during WALK 2003, but teachers were challenged to walk with their classes during the school day to achieve incentives as well.

Fourteen classrooms receive "Survivor Frozen Yogurt" parties for reaching top honors at their respective schools, and the winning classrooms are as follows: Phillip Penny's class at School of Extended Hope; Claudette Guy's walking class at Clarkton School of Discovery; Karen Johnson's 2nd grade class at Bladen Lakes Primary School; and Stephanie Thurman's 5th grade class at Bladenboro Middle School.

Also, Andy Clark's 1st period Health/PE class at West Bladen High School; Patty Ever's 9th grade Health/PE class at East Bladen High School; Mrs. Sower's 2nd grade class at East Arcadia School; and Mary Andrew's 3rd grade class at Elizabethtown Primary School.

Also, Doll Priest's 6th grade class at Elizabethtown Middle School; Valerie Morris's Kindergarten class at Dublin; Carroll Cooper's 4th grade class at Plainview Primary School; Michael Hebert's 4th grade and Pam McKeithan's class at Bladenboro Primary School.

The Pre-Kindergarten class of Martha Lewis at Booker T. Washington walked well over 1,000 miles together during the two month campaign. For their amazing efforts this class received a "Survivor Subway Sandwich" party as the top classroom in the entire county.

The top Surviving Walkers at each school walked over 5,408 miles collectively and their average individual contribution was over 190 miles. The totals are fantastic and far greater than even last year's awesome results. Bladen County students and staff are one step closer to good health by incorporating walking into their everyday lives. Many of our winning "Survivors" are continuing a walking regimen and have consequently lost weight as a result of WALK 2003: Survival of the Fit.

We salute you Bladen County Schools!! You walked over 75,749 miles during WALK 2003; with over 705 students walking 25 miles or more. You are ALL true SURVIVORS!