Physical activity has blossomed at the Frank M. Silvia Elementary School with the addition of numerous activities, all  part of the Greater Fall River Fitness Challenge in the Fall River Schools. Lead Physical Education Teacher Terry Mahjoory, who devised most of the activities, reviewed some of what they have done this year on a tour of the school conducted on April 29, 2016. Some of the Challenge activities included having children do quiet exercises while waiting in the hallway during their bathroom breaks, taking five-minute "brain breaks" by moving in their computer classroom, running laps on course on the playground during their recess period, or sharing what they do with their families to keep physically active through a bulletin board in the hallway. "Once again, the Silvia School has gone way above and beyond our expectations for this year's Challenge by engaging children in physical activity throughout the day, not just in their PE classes," noted Picard. "They are demonstrating that physical activity doesn't have to take time away from learning and, in fact, improves learning by keeping children moving."  Click here for a 18-minute video of some of the activities. Click here for photos of the what the school did last year. For more information, contact School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard at 774-319-0107.

(Top row) Lead Physical Education Teacher Terry Mahjoory describes how students go through a series of movements as the line up in the hallway for bathroom breaks and then do a series of movements in their computer classes. (Row two) Students demonstrate their morning exercises and line up for another series of exercises while waiting their turn in the bathroom. (Rows three and four) Students line up during recess before being chosen to participate in a 3,000 mile marathon where they run a course on the playground, marking their laps b dropping a bead in a bucket. (Bottom row, center) A bulletin board in the hallway describes how physical activity enhances learning at every level and increases attention and concentration.