NORWICH – The Student Athletic Council (SAC) at Norwich High School has completed filming for a unique exercise video, one they hope will provide local elementary school teachers a means to settle down rowdy classrooms and help young students refocus on their schoolwork, according to SAC advisor Shelly Alger.
The short video features a group of SAC members performing a few short exercise activities, including jumping jacks and proper stretching techniques.
Athletic Director Stephen Griffin said the idea was first proposed to the council following a request by Perry Browne and Stanford-Gibson principals Jennifer Post and Dara Lewis for ideas on how to best keep children on track, especially when they’re feeling unruly.
“They asked if we could get some high school kids involved and the idea was presented to the SAC,” stated Griffin, who added “we put it in the students’ hands.”
SAC President and NHS senior Jim Testani headed up the project, joined by fellow SAC members Brendan McInerney, Darrel Humphrey, Ben Barnes, Joe Bazarnik and Nate Ashton.
Testani stated that, as student athletes, he and his fellow SAC members felt it important to get involved with future student athletes.
“We wanted to send a message that learning is important,” said Testani, a center for the Purple Tornado football squad who also participates in indoor and outdoor track and field. “It was definitely a positive experience and we had fun with it.”
Creating the video was a fairly quick process which took less than an hour, according to Testani, who said he hoped it would prove to be a useful tool for teachers.
In addition, Alger said a plan is in the works for SAC members to participate in a reading program at Stanford-Gibson in the near future, placing student athletes as reading coaches several days a week at the elementary school. The program will focus on getting the younger students “excited about reading and learning in general,” she added.
The approximately 30 members of the Student Athletic Council at NHS meet every Wednesday morning and are involved in a number of school activities, including the annual banquet recognizing senior athletes for their athletic contributions over the years and running the concession stand at the boys and girls basketball games. This year, the council has planned a trip to Great Adventure for some well-deserved fun, said Alger.
“This is just a great bunch of kids,” said Griffin of the SAC members, whom he called caring and responsible. “The school should be honored that we have the students that we have.”