Partners School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard led a team of evaluators who looked at activities that area school children were engaged in as part of the Fall River Fitness Challenge. Over 5,200 children participated in a variety of activities and schools in Fall River, Somerset, Swansea and Westport. At the Challenge Finale, "We challenge physical education teachers in the Greater Fall River Area to come up with something beyond what they would ordinarily do in their classes from February through May," said Picard. "They are then judged on creativity, originality, sustainability and educational value, as well as enthusiasm of both students and school personnel." Awards were given at the Challenge Finale Event on May 15, 2015 to the following schools: 1st Place to Silvia Elementary School, 2nd Place to Case High School, 3rd Place to Stone Therapeutic Day School, and Honorable Mentions to B.M.C. Durfee High School, Kuss Middle School, Letourneau Elementary School, and Westport Middle School. The First Place Silvia Elementary School went way beyond the others in devising creative physical activities for both students and teachers. Cash prizes ranging from $125 to $500 were given to the physical education program in each of the winning schools. For more information, contact School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard at 774-319-0107. (Photos submitted by participating schools)

(Top row) Case High School students do reverse squats, push-ups and deep knee bends. (Row two, left and right) Students at the Silvia Elementary School do exercises in the hallways during a bathroom break. (Row two, center) Morton Middle School students do leg lifts. (Row three) Students at B.M.C. Durfee High School perform high jumps to a  platform while Westport Middle School students lift books and do reverse pushups at their desks during class. (Bottom row) Westport Elementary School students do calisthenics and running while Doran Community School students walk to school every morning.