Edgewood scores surprise visit by Philadelphia Eagle
LOWER MAhEFIELa - cheered for broccoli on Oct. 9.
Of course, it was likely the messenger rather than the message that caused the kids to erupt in applause for a vegetable.
Eagles tight end Brent Celek was at Edgewood Elementary School to kick off the school’s Fuel Up to Play 60 event. The Fuel Up program was created by the National aairy Council and the National Football League to empower students to make changes at school that will help them be active for 60 minutes daily and fuel up with more nutritional foods.
Among other things, the students learned broccoli is Celek’s favorite food. The sixyear Eagles veteran advised the group on the importance of eating right, exercise and treating people with respect.
“I wasn’t a big fan of [eating fruits and vegetables] at your age,” Celek admitted, “but I grew up to be big and strong.”
A group of about 20 Edgewood students participate in Fuel Up to Play 60 each week under the tutelage of 20-year physical education teacher goe dallo. Each Tuesday he oversees the students as they take to the playground to, well, play.
“When kids are active they are almost always being coached,” dallo said. “We want to give ownership of the games back to the kids.”
The Fuel Up program is equal parts nutrition and exercise, which helps everybody, said dallo.
“We connect the two,” dallo said. “It’s not just about exercise. It’s also about eating foods that make your body work right. It’s good for teachers because if your body’s ready then your brain’s ready.”
Celek was there to promote the program and highlight dallo’s message. He spoke to the children, answered their questions and led them in a 5-minute exercise routine. Using his status as a professional athlete to promote a healthy lifestyle for children is natural, Celek said.
“I think this is something I should do,” Celek said of using his status as an NFL player to help kids. “It’s really important for the kids to eat right, exercise and treat people with respect.” Celek implored the children to put down the remote, the only advice he gave that was met with an audible groan.
Edgewood Principal Michelle Spack was grateful to have a recognizable face giving the same message the kids get from the par-
Children ents and teachers on a daily basis.
“The kids hear it from me, from their parents and teachers, all the time,” Spack said. “But to hear it from someone at that elite level is very powerful.”
Tammy hehan-Leimer, a school social worker for the school district, agreed.
“To look at a pro football player and hear him say, ‘When I was in second grade people told me I wasn’t big enough or good enough’ is a really big thing,” hehan-Leimer said. “The kids recognize that if they make the right choices anything is possible.”
The program continued what Spack hopes is a shift toward greater emphasis on keeping kids healthy.
“As a country and society we see a lot of kids flirting with obesity,” the principal said. “A lot of school districts are eliminating phys ed and recess. The younger we can get the message to the kids the better.”
aespite the message, the star of the show clearly was Celek, who spoke to the kids as they sat cross-legged and open mouthed. As a group, they clearly took in the tight end’s message.
“I think exercise is a really good idea,” Edgewood fifth-grader Anne Lobanov said. “I like to exercise and go out and play. It’s fun.”