By Shirley Shuman
A team of eight Frametown Elementary School students recently won first place in the WV Fit and Active Schools Face-Off. The group’s coach, FES physical education instructor Lauri Spenser, explained that this was the first time for this event. Competition actually began in April and ended on May 18.
Competing for Frametown were Chance Davis, Maggie Glover, Ryan Glover, Audriona Hess, Adeline Lowther, Lane Moore, Brent Moyers and Mason Smarr. Faith Skeens was the alternate. Teams had students in grades three through five with no more than five students from any one grade. Frametown’s team included four third graders, two fourth graders, and two fifth graders. The alternate is in the third grade.
Coach Spenser explained how Frametown’s competition came about. “When I heard about this competition, I shared the news with the students to see if they were interested, and they were as excited as I was. I was so excited for our students to have an opportunity like this at the elementary level,” she said.
In April, each school planning to compete had to submit a video of the team’s doing its video routine. The routine, according to Spenser, consisted of five rounds of eight exercises with each exercise performed for 30 seconds. The entire routine lasted 20 minutes.
Two Braxton County elementary schools, Frametown and Sutton Elementary, were among the six state elementary schools chosen to compete in person May 18. Competition was held at the WV Culture Center in Charleston WV.
In the first round of competition, each team performed its routine. Students were judged on form, intensity, rhythm stamina, and transitions. The top three following that round advanced to the finals, where they competed once more. Frametown won that competition. The team won a trophy and a banner to hang in the gymnasium. The school will receive a $500 grant to support physical activity in the school.
Spenser emphasized how she felt about the team’s win and about her students in general. “I’m so proud of them,” she said. “I feel they represented our school and county well. The kids work hard all year, not just for the competition.” Coordinator for this competition was Joshua Grant, WV Department of Education coordinator for physical education and Health Education K-12 and Wellness Education and Physical Activity K-8.
