DCS Montessori jumps and jives for heart health
This red sea of students and staff attended the Jump Rope for Heart assembly at DCS Montessori on January 13 to celebrate heart health.
Article submitted by Jodi Anderson with photo courtesy of DCSM
What do rappers, dancers, and jive queens have in common with DCS Montessori Charter School (DCSM)? On Friday, January 13, students, parents, staff and faculty found out during an all-out extravaganza to launch this year’s Jump Rope 4 Heart campaign for the school. DCSM’s Jump day will be Friday, February 3. Our students are having fun while helping out and learning how to take care of their hearts.
Bruce Berning, the physical education teacher at DCSM, provided emcee duty at the assembly. His guest speakers included a father and daughter who shared their personal experiences with the American Heart Association (AHA). After the daughter was born prematurely several years ago, words and slides helped the students of DCSM to understand that she was smaller than the Beanie Baby the father held which lay next to the tiny baby in one picture. Fortunately, this was a story of survival and triumph in which the AHA played a major part.
Dance entertainment followed to the delight of the student body. Under the direction of faculty member Karen Depretis, several teachers and staff participated in an upbeat dance production set to the Pointer Sister’s “Jump.” Dressed in 80’s rapper style they danced their way into the hearts of their audience.
Though not professional dancers, these folks were dancing for a cause they believe in, and it came through in the fun displayed and the laughter shared. Several minutes into the dance set, Head of School Jeromy Johnson was joined by fellow staffers Bruce Berning and Rick Franklin for some laughter-inducing mock hip hop dance moves. The students were encouraged to stand and join in. The final notes were punctuated by one teacher performing a full split which elicited a big round of cheers.
Last year DCSM was proud to have raised more than $8,000 for the Jump Rope 4 Heart campaign. This year, Berning has challenged the students to break the $9,000 mark.
“If this milestone is reached, we’ll be enjoying a Crazy Hair Day as incentive,” she promised. Hooray, finally bed head will have its time!
If you would like to donate, please visit the AHA website at www.heart.org/jump.
