<h3>Entering the <em><i>Jump Rope for Heart</i></em> programme was a win-win for Havelock North Primary last year. The school was looking for new ways to increase PE participation and regular exercise for the children, while working towards a much-needed upgrade of the school&#8217;s sports equipment.</h3>
<p>The Heart Foundation’s <em><i>Jump Rope for Heart</i></em> programme ticked all the boxes.</p>
<p>The school&#8217;s sports and PE development leader, Samantha Newton, was a first-time <em><i>Jump Rope for Heart</i></em> coordinator and shares her experience.</p>
<p>“I had a dream run with <em><i>Jump Rope for Heart</i></em> last year. The programme provides all the resources you need such as teacher guides and starter packs for the kids. They even provided draft letters to send home so all I had to do was set a date and commit. It couldn’t be a more user-friendly programme.</p>
<p>“The children loved the daily exercise and enjoyed competing for jumps between friends and other classes. The skip-a-thon day became a major school event with streamers, bunting and balloons decorating the turf and <em><i>Jump Rope for Heart</i></em> music playing amid an array of skipping ropes and happy children.</p>
<p>“The most important thing is winning the children’s enthusiasm. By the time we’d got to the skip-a-thon, they were 100 per cent engaged and creating a carnival atmosphere really helped harness that excitement and bring the event to life.”</p>
<p>Samantha advised that, as in most sports, skipping is achieved in levels. But by the end of the term, the children had shown a huge improvement, skipping in pairs, on long ropes and in a variety of other ways.</p>
<p>Havelock North Primary encourages their students to be physically active every day; they hold PE lessons (fundamental movement skills or tactics) twice a week as well as the odd class game. Physical activity not only contributes to health and fitness, but also helps shape the movement section of a child&#8217;s brain, so is crucial to a child&#8217;s overall growth and development.</p>
<p>Good organisation behind executing <em><i>Jump Rope for Heart</i></em> was key for the school, so Samantha recruited two colleagues for support. She also ensured all teachers had access to the <em><i>Jump Rope for Heart</i></em> resources, prompting them to get their classes outside and skipping.</p>
<p>“The resources are fantastic,” says Samantha. “They are a time-saver, detailed and very child-friendly which is important as the whole school receives copies. They are the first thing I have gone back to as I start to organise the event again this year.”</p>
<p>In 2015, Havelock North Primary raised $5,000 through <em><i>Jump Rope for Heart</i></em>, allowing them to fully utilise the 50 per cent rebate on offer to schools.</p>
<p>“We were able to put half the money raised from the programme towards reviving the school&#8217;s PE equipment along with the purchase of new gear as well,” says Samantha.</p>
<p>The other half went towards supporting the Heart Foundation’s vital work, fighting heart disease which is New Zealand’s biggest killer.</p>
<p>“I wouldn&#8217;t hesitate to encourage other schools to take part. The event encouraged daily fitness for our children and got families together at the skip-a-thon. Even better, the children embraced fundraising for a great cause. This enhances the overall learning experience, as service to their community is put into good practice,” says Samantha.</p>
<p><strong><b> </b></strong></p>
<p><strong><b>Joining in together</b></strong></p>
<p>Keeping kids physically active has never been more important. Currently one in three New Zealand children are either overweight or obese, putting their health at risk.</p>
<p>The Heart Foundation’s <em><i>Jump Rope for Heart</i></em> programme teaches and encourages children to keep physically active for their heart health. The programme, now in its 31<sup>st</sup> year, also educates teachers on the benefits of having a balanced and healthy lifestyle, which they’re able to pass onto their students.</p>
<p>Skipping is heaps of fun but it’s hard work too. It requires concentration, balance and coordination, as well as progressing numeracy, team work and leadership skills.</p>
<p>More than 2.4 million Kiwi children have kept active and fit through <em><i>Jump Rope for Heart</i></em> since it was established by the Heart Foundation in 1985. Many of you reading this article will have taken part yourselves.</p>
<p>Let’s keep the skipping movement going in New Zealand while supporting the fight against heart disease. For more information on taking part in <em><i>Jump Rope for Heart</i></em>, visit <a href="http://www.jumpropeforheart.org.nz/" target="_blank">www.jumpropeforheart.org.nz</a>.</p>

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