- April 25, 2024
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It was a busy morning for the students, parents and teachers who had gathered at three schools for the annual Volusia County Fitness Festivals, which have been taking place for more than 30 years.
More than 1,800 Volusia public school students from fourth to eighth grade had spent several hours of their morning participating in the events, which took place on Friday, Feb. 9. In Port Orange, middle school students arrived early to compete with students from around the county at Silver Sands Middle School while elementary students spent the morning at Spruce Creek High. Students from Forest Lake, Pride and Spirit elementary schools competed on the Forest Lake Elementary campus.
A challenge for every student
Kicking off the events at Silver Sands was Silver Sands PE Coach Laurie Gawriluk who has been a part of the Fitness Festivals for about 15 years.
"The kids have an opportunity to come mingle with each other, socialize, realize the importance of fitness, have some competition," Gawriluk said. "There are not many opportunities for middle schoolers to compete. This is their time to shine."
Throughout the morning, students participated in various events, including the 5-yard dash, shuttle run, mile relay and standing long jump. Several of the day's events are also a part of the Presidential Fitness Challenge, which was started in 1966 to promote physical health among youth.
Physical health and the community
In Volusia County, the number of middle schools students who are obese has risen from 11.3% in 2010 to 13.6% in 2016, according to the Florida Department of Health. For high schoolers, the number has gone from 10.5% to 15.7%.
We're seeing more and more children that are obese," Executive Community Health Nursing Director for the Volusia DOH Denise Ayers said. "With obesity comes the increase of diabetes and the health factors that go into play with that as well."
Creekside Middle School parents, Kimberly Wolak and Tanya Anderson, who were out supporting their children during the competition, noted that the event was more than just a competition.
"It's great," Wolak said. "It gets the students outside."
Returning to the challenge
For some students, like Silver Sands Middle School student Gavin Bryant, the challenge wasn't new. Bryant first had the chance to participate when he was in fourth grade. On Friday he was competing in the long jump.
"The other time I had a lot of fun," Bryant said, adding that he was still still a little nervous about
Friday's competitions.
For one person at the event, the challenges have a special meaning. Jamie Sheriff used to participate in the Fitness Festivals when she was a student at Tomoka Elementary. Now, she is a coach at the school and helps run the current event. As for her thoughts on what the festivals mean, she sees health and working together major parts of what the students are doing.
"It's more about being well-rounded individuals," Sheriff said. "They have the physical skills, they have the character, the sportsmanship and [they're] able to support each other and encourage their classmates and their competitors to do the best they can possibly do."
