Teacher placed in a sticky spot, but it was all for a good-hearted cause

BELLBROOK — During the week, students went through an obstacle course in their school gym using equipment set up to show how blood flows through the heart. The students were the “blood cells.” Part of the course involved jumping rope and taking their own pulse. After that learning experience, they had a bit of fun: They taped a teacher to the wall on Friday.

The 590 third- through fifth-graders at Bell Creek Intermediate School, enjoyed last week’s Jump Rope for Heart activities. Their goal, besides keeping their hearts healthy, was to raise $9,500 for the American Heart Association. If they did that, Sasha Taylor, the school’s physical education teacher and coordinator of the activities, promised student donors they could duct tape a “mystery” teacher to the gym wall.

Despite two snow days, students exceeded their goal. They raised $10,234.05 and taped fifth-grade teacher Scott Anderson to the wall. He stood on a small box, later removed, leaving him about a foot off the ground. BCI Principal Mike Baldridge allowed students to tape him to the wall, too.

“I think it’s awesome,” Baldridge said. “Every year they’ve made their goal.”

Friday, Feb. 4, known as Go Red Day by the American Heart Association, to create heart health awareness, was also Popcorn Day at the school. Student council members sold popcorn and did hair painting for 25 cents at lunch, with the $110 they raised going to the AHA. Teachers and students wore red.

The third-graders had the highest percent of red- wearers — 86 percent — so they got to form a heart and have their picture taken before Friday’s assembly.

The monthlong heart health program began in January with Taylor teaching jump-rope skills. Jump 100 times without stopping and you became a member of the 100 Jump Club, showing endurance. Next came learning jump rope tricks to show agility and coordination, and shows to perform before their peers.

Fourth-grader Sara Wolf was honored at Friday’s assembly for her T-shirt design, entered in the national design contest featured on AHA’s website, www.heart.org/jump. Sara illustrated the theme, “It takes heart to be a hero,” drawing a heart wrapped up with a jump rope, with a boy and girl wearing capes and holding up the heart. One of the top 10 vote-getters will have their T-shirt design used nationally on T-shirts by the AHA, Taylor said.

Another fourth-grader, Alex Doak, brought in a $1,000 donation from 10 to 12 donors, the biggest donation from one child she’s ever received, Taylor said. Donations were made through friends and family, with many of the larger donations from people connected to someone who had heart disease or a stroke.

Fourth-grader Alex Benson liked it all. “I got to give donations and learn about different blood cells and the heart,” he said. To stay healthy “you need to eat healthy foods and take care of your body,” he said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2341 or kullmer@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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