West Bronx Academy for the Future, Belmont Preparatory High School and Fordham Leadership Academy for Business and Technology students celebrated Worldwide Day of Play with the swimming tournament supported by Mr. Wilper Morales, principal of the West Bronx Academy for The Future.
Students had a lot of fun and competed in different swimming techniques, but also in the longest front floating and swimming underwater. After the tournament, the students were given a short lesson about healthy food and nutrition facts. At the end, they enjoyed organic bananas and Honest Kids organic thirst quenchers sponsored by their swimming teachers – Mr. Mavrek and Mr. Stewart.
Every year, Worldwide Day of Play is celebrated with more than 3,500 local events in all 50 states and in 13 countries. The Worldwide Day of Play began with the cable network Nickelodeon, and has grown to be sponsored by First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Campaign, which focuses on making the youth of America more active (www.letsmove.org).
“The purpose of this event was not only to celebrate Worldwide Day of Play and physical activity, but also to increase awareness about the importance of healthy eating choices and exercise as a means to reduce childhood obesity,” said Mr. Srecko Mavrek, swimming teacher and President of Exercise Science/Sports Medicine Section of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. “As September 2011 was proclaimed as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month by Mr. Barack Obama, the President of the US, we took action by teaching our students about obesity complications and engaging them in activities that promote healthy eating habits and physically active lifestyle.” Full text can be found here.
“Our students enjoyed celebration of Worldwide Day of Play by swimming. Many of them participate in after-school programs as the members of varsity and C.H.A.M.P.S teams. Learning about healthy food and nutrition facts will help them to make the right choices and maintain optimal weight for a lifetime,” said Mr. Michael E. Stewart, swimming teacher and coach.
The winners of the swimming tournament are:
The longest front floating: 45:69 seconds – Juan Perez (Belmont Preparatory High School), 26:78 seconds – Vanessa Barrera (West Bronx Academy for the Future Middle School)
The longest swimming underwater: 50 yards – Julio Peralta (Belmont Preparatory High School)
Freestyle 25 yards: 13:06 – Enes Mernica (Belmont Preparatory High School)
Freestyle 50 yards: 30:53 – Javier Polanco (Belmont Preparatory High School)
Backstroke 50 yards: 16:32 – Julio Peralta (Belmont Preparatory High School)
Breaststroke 50 yards: 40:69 – Enes Mernica (Belmont Preparatory High School)
Butterfly 25 yards: 14:64 Julio Peralta (Belmont Preparatory High School)
Middle school winners in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly: John Owusu and Kinaysha Lugo ((West Bronx Academy for the Future Middle School)
For more information about the West Bronx Academy for The Future, please go here.
