Jump Rope for Heart has new hero at Winsor Hill

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Tristan Stevens is Johnston’s newest Heart Hero.

The Winsor Hill Elementary School first grader earned that prestigious title after competing in Jump Rope for Heart and raising $265 for the American Heart Association.

Stevens now has his name affixed to the Zoo Crew poster, which is displayed throughout the nation’s participating schools and features the names of students that have given to the AHA cause.

“Tristan is our school’s Heart Hero,” Susan Parillo, Winsor Hill’s popular Health and Physical Education Teacher who doubles as head coach of Johnston High’s champion cheerleading corps, declared during a medal presentation ceremony last Friday. “He raised the most funds for this incredible program.”

Parillo, who takes pride in promoting educational health-related activities at Winsor Hill, said, “Our school community is proud to be a part of Healthy for Good, a revolutionary movement to inspire students to create lasting change in their health and life, one small step at a time. The approach is simple: Eat smart. Move more. Be well.”

She also noted that Jump Rope for Heart is the perfect program to educate students in areas such as proper nutrition choice and how the heart functions, as well as hear real life stories of children who had or continue to have heart issues.

“However, it is even more powerful when our own students share their stories of heart-related issues,” Parillo said. “A healthy school environment can lead to greater academic success, healthier students and staff. Good habits are the key to good health and healthy students have a higher attendance rate and perform better in the classroom.”

Recently, Parillo transformed the Winsor Hill gymnasium into a perfect learning and moving place. Students were running, jumping rope, performing cardio fitness spots, rock climbing and reading what Parillo said were “Did you know?” fitness cards. At the end of the event, she said, “Students were anxious to share what activity raised their heart rate the most and what information they learned.”

Parillo also said “the Winsor Hill School mission is to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. That simple purpose drives all we do, the need for our work is beyond question.”

The Winsor Hill community, which includes alumnus Mayor Joseph Polisena, realizes Jump Rope for Heart is a program that targets elementary students with education and movement.

“A rise in obesity, poor nutrition habits, and decreased activity is being seen throughout the nation with our school age children,” Parillo explained. “This needs to change so our future generations are not facing an adult life with increased heart disease and related conditions.”

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