Cactus Trails Elementary School transformed its soccer field into a giant bingo card to encourage students and their parents to join in fun physical fitness activities.
In November, families joined their Pre-K to fifth-grade children for the school's annual PE Family Fitness Bingo event. Participants received bingo cards filled with various fitness activities in each square. They ran, did sit-ups and push-ups, flipped tires, and more, all aimed at promoting health and wellness while having fun together.
“It was easy!” said third-grader Braydon Mata after flipping an exercise tire.
The event featured 25 different exercises. After completing an activity, participants marked it off their cards. Students who covered the whole card won a special prize, such as a toy.
“I think it's a great environment,” said Oscar Valenzuela, whose son, Vadhir, attends the school’s Pre-K. “It's great for the kids. He got very excited when he saw us. And it's definitely good exposure for them. And it's good for the parents as well to get some exercise, get some sun, too.”
Erica Armijo, the physical education teacher at Cactus Trails, said the event gave parents a glimpse of the activities their children participate in during physical education classes.
“We want them to feel that as a family, like we are here at Cactus Trails and in our district, that every little bit of integration with home and school is so important. And we just love to see how much fun they have,” Armijo said.
The event, which took place on Nov. 7, before Veterans Day, also paid tribute to military veterans, including Sydney Ross, a former US Air Force armor man, who attended with her daughter, Emerson Killmer, a kindergartener at the school.
They did push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, hula hooping and the beam walk.
“I think it's very special,” Ross said. I would not miss it for anything. I wouldn't want her to see all the parents that are out here, and I wouldn't want her not to have hers as well, but I think it's really amazing.”