Grant enables CHS to buy heart-rate monitors
Keri Jaworski could barely walk after her first spinning class.
The Coeur d’Alene High physical education teacher is in better shape than many people, but during that spinning class she found herself pedaling furiously to match pace with others. Sweaty, red-faced and worn out, Jaworski quickly decided that spinning wasn’t much fun.
As she shared her frustration, someone asked if she had a heart-rate monitor. Maybe, they told her, pedaling so fast – so fast that she could hardly stay on the exercise bike – wasn’t giving her the maximum benefit for the amount of energy she was expending.
Turns out, they were right. Jaworski strapped on a heart-rate monitor and gave spinning another chance. She quickly learned that to get her heart rate in the target zone – the point at which she would receive the most benefit – she didn’t have to suffer.
Thanks to a grant from the Qwest Foundation, Jaworski will be able to purchase heart-rate monitors for her students. Students currently use the two-fingers-to-the-side-of-the-neck method to determine their heart rate. The monitors will be easier for students to use, Jaworski said, and more accurate.
With obesity rates on the climb and only one semester of PE required, Jaworski said there’s a short window of opportunity to teach students about how they can reduce their risk of disease and illness.
She said she’s hoping to convince students that even the slightest increase in activity can reap benefits.
“We’re trying to get it out of their head, dismember that idea that they have to go at 100 percent to receive the maximum benefit,” she said. “They can still benefit from low-level and moderate activity.”
In addition to 60 heart-rate monitors, the grant allows the school to purchase graphing calculators. Jaworski will be working with science teacher Brenda Woodward and math teacher Martha Roletto. Information gathered with the heart-rate monitors will be analyzed in the other classes.
Woodward said by working together, the teachers hope to show students that what they learn in science and math can apply to the real world. Working together, the teachers said they also believe they’ll be able to add extra reinforcement to Jaworski’s message: Exercise, even little bit, is a good thing.
Judges wanted
Coeur d’Alene High School is looking for nearly 300 people to judge senior projects on May 27.
All seniors at CHS have to complete a senior project as a graduation requirement. Projects can focus on a combination of any two of the following areas: academics, community service, career or personal growth.
Students have to write a research paper and spend a certain amount of time on their project. On May 27, students will deliver presentations on their projects, which will be judged by a panel.
Volunteer judges will be served breakfast at 8 a.m. Instructions will be delivered next and the senior presentations will begin at 9:30. After the presentations, around 11, refreshments will be served.
To volunteer, contact teacher Tiege Arman at 667-4507, ext. 719 or e-mail tarman@sd271.k12.id.us.
Student of the Month
Ashley Hobbs has been selected as Post Falls Rotary Student of the Month for March. The Post Falls High School student has lettered in academics and band. She was recognized as a 2004 Idaho Top Scholar and 2004 Outstanding Student of America. Her parents are Mark and Brooke Sellman.
Ashley has a 4.0 grade-point average. She is active in music and plays in the wind ensemble, marching band, pep band and jazz band. She participates in the Alive Christian Club and is a leader in her church youth group.
She plans to attend University of Idaho to study civil engineering and would someday like to own an engineering firm.
Band teacher wins award
Jim Phillips, a band teacher from Coeur d’Alene High, brought home a fourth-place prize from the North American Brass Band Association National Championship held March 11-12 in Chicago. Phillips, a principal solo cornet player, placed fourth in the solo contest for that category. He is also a member of the Spokane British Brass Band.