A group of students at Lumpkin Middle School is making the fight against childhood obesity personal. They've formed their own club to get kids moving, and it's making kids all over the school want to put on their dancing shoes.
In the class, the students are the teachers and the lesson is dance.
"I actually did not like dancing when I first heard of the club, but I kind of just got drawn in," said 9th grader Arlette Rojas.
About 100 have been drawn into the KISS Club. KISS stands for Kids in Super Shape. It's a fitness and nutrition club run by students.
"It's so amazing. It's a great workout, so many people and just a big, ol' family," said Rojas.
The group organizes activities that get them moving, and most of the time that includes line dancing. The club's founder, 7th grade teacher Debbie Carter-Dye says she wanted to use dance as a motivator.
"I knew the kids needed to lead it and it needed to be something that they enjoyed. The way we used to play, it's over. They don't play like that anymore. You don't see kids out playing kickball or basketball or things of that nature," said Carter-Dye.
But dance has brought everyone together.
"Dancing, you might not think that it is, but it can bring anybody together. It can be the jocks, it can be the smart people, it can be the popular people, the cheerleaders, they just all want to get out there and have fun and dance," said KISS instructor Anika Myers.
The club's leaders choreograph the routines, and teach them to other club members. They say it's a membership that keeps just growing. While the students are building a foundation for fitness, they also say they're developing character.
"It's given me more self-esteem. It makes me feel a lot more comfortable as well as probably a lot of other kids here. And it's just empowering and great," said Rojas. "And it's really awesome to see people, everyone, just dancing and having a good time and not thinking about whatever anybody else thinks of them, just enjoying themselves."
KISS Club has expanded to include other forms of fitness. They are now in the middle of a 100 mile challenge. They are rewarded for every 25 miles they walk or run. For more information on the KISS Club, click here!
Monday, June 17 2013 10:08 AM EDT2013-06-17 14:08:03 GMT
Now, it's time to get ‘phine' – and, yes, that's with a ‘P-H.' Fitness trainer Apollo Nida is here to help you get those arms and legs in tip-top shape for summer!
Now, it's time to get ‘phine' – and, yes, that's with a ‘P-H.' Fitness trainer Apollo Nida is here to help you get those arms and legs in tip-top shape for summer!
