St. Agnes students climb their way to fitness

In an effort to continue his team’s training sessions on rainy days, Mark Marley, the cross country coach at St. Agnes School in Jefferson, would have his runners do “laps” by climbing the stairs of their three-story school building.

So why not, thought Marley, make this readymade exercise opportunity available to the entire student body on a daily basis?

Soon after, St. Agnes’ “Stairwell to Health” program was launched in 2010-11. Every morning, St. Agnes students in kindergarten through eighth grade, accompanied by their teachers, walk up and down the stairwells of their three-story school building at their own pace – then do it again – before settling into their desks for the prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance and announcements.

“So many children today really don’t get as much exercise as they should,” notes Marley, who is also the school’s assistant principal, guidance counselor and honors English teacher. “It gets them a little bit of exercise in the morning for their physical well-being, but I’m also hoping this plants the idea that exercising for your health should be part of your routine. The hope is that later in life, exercise will become a habit – ‘I can go for a walk in the morning before work,’ or ‘I think I’ll go for a run or ride a bike.’”

The stair-climbing begins shortly after the 8 a.m. bell, and involves about five minutes of actual walking time. The students are back in their homerooms by about 8:12, which gives them ample time to gather their books and settle down for the school day.

In the beginning of the school year, a few grumbles are heard in response to the daily stair-climb, but “now they look forward to it,” said technology coordinator, Suzzan Defourneaux, who greets students in various languages as they begin their ascent.

“It stimulates their bodies. It stimulates their minds. It sets our school day off in a good way, and the faculty enjoys it, too,” she said.

“Sometimes you don’t feel like you want to do it, but after you feel better. It awakens you,” said third grader Seanna Hernandez, recalling that she felt winded after completing the circuit earlier in the school year, but now feels like she’s “got energy.”

“It makes me feel pumped and ready for school, said Matthew Taylor, a fifth grader. “It makes your brain feel better.”

Marley has seen the stair-climbing calm down students who “tend to be fidgety” and wake up the students who are “sleepy.” When the morning walkers reach the third floor, Anne Cochran, St. Agnes’ middle school reading and language arts teacher, pipes music from her classroom, prompting the students to add dance moves to their workout.

A self-described “fitness fanatic” who rides his bike to work every day, Marley said the students’ daily training will prepare them well for St. Agnes’ annual “Fitness Walk” to and from the levee in late April. A number of teachers have also been inspired to start their own exercise groups.

“They’re having fun and getting the benefits of exercise at the same time,” said Bridget Sinibaldi, school principal. “It has been a huge success from the beginning.”