The physical education classes at Meadowlark Elementary School in Chinook celebrated the completion of a unit on heart health with a Pie in the Face Gathering on February 18. Students who collected the most donations for their grade level in the Kids Heart Challenge, a program of the American Heart Association, were recognized at this Gathering and granted the privilege of throwing a pie at a school official. The Gathering was livestreamed on the school's Facebook page.

The school's goal was to raise $2,500, and they exceeded that goal, generating $3,050.27 for the American Heart Association (AHA). Their success was due in large part to the students who generated the most donations for their grade level. Top donation collectors were Aria Barber (Kindergarten), Hailee Niederegger (first grade), Callen Alisch (second grade), Jorie Miller (third grade), Rhett Hofeldt (fourth grade), Alexis Gallus (fifth grade), and Ryder Hofeldt (sixth grade).

Barber, who individually raised $325, was the school's most successful fundraiser. She elected to throw her pie at Mrs. Sheena Barber, whose attire was a banana costume for the assembly. Next, Niederegger tossed her pie at Mrs. Kelsey Harry, the school's librarian who wore protective eye gear and blankets to shield her clothing. Ms. Melinda Jones was Alisch's target, while Principal Bartschi-who donned a garbage bag as protection-was Miller's selection.

Once the primary grades had taken their turns heaving a whipped cream-filled pie plate, Rhett Hofeldt rubbed one in the face of Ms. Shandel Fouts, who wore a Holstein cow costume. And Gallus decided to smear Ms. Emily Scofield with whipping cream. After getting treated with topping, Scofield, who was dressed in a gorilla suit, retaliated in a scuffle with Fouts, and the two engaged in a temporary sort of "food fight." Wearing giraffe gear, Mrs. Janelle Deanon accepted the final pie from her own student, Ryder Hofeldt.

Mrs. Courtney Bell, the physical education teacher at Meadowlark Elementary School, reported that her students started the Kids Heart Challenge (KHC) on January 27 with a Zoom kick-off led by KHC coordinators.

"We were excited to continue our tradition of participating in the American Heart Association's Kids Heart Challenge! Now, more than ever, it is important to teach our students how to have a happy and healthy heart through physical activity, mental well-being, character building, and helping others.

Our goal was to have 100% of our students join our online team and take the challenge to move more, be kind, and choose water. We also set an exciting dollar goal this year, hoping to raise enough money to save forty lives," Bell explained.

During their heart-healthy unit, students learned about the function of the heart, as well as the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. These topics included information about the brain and how various life choices affect it. Among these choices, the sixth through fourth graders learned about vaping. Bell also discussed nutrition with her students and how eating healthy foods help the body function effectively.

To support mental health, students discussed being positive and being kind. "I end every class with a statement based on these principles," Bell said. "We also had a day of yoga, which the older kids didn't like as much as the cardio workout they did. However, my younger students loved the yoga and want to do more.

We also kept our meditation practice that I started at the beginning of the year to give my students another tool for their mental health that they can control. We practice this every other week."

Some of the other physical activities they engaged in to get their hearts pumping were basketball and jump roping. "We jumped rope in class, completing four timed challenges: 30 seconds, one minute, one minute and 30 seconds, and two minutes. If the kids met the timed challenge, they got to sign a poster I made for each," Bell stated. "We did the same for shooting, passing, dribbling, and experiencing game-like play. It was a busy few weeks."

When enthusiasm for the KHC program began to dilute and fundraising to stall, Bell stepped in with an idea. "I noticed the kids needed a boost, so I proposed a deal. If they reached their $2,500.00 goal by February 16th, I would dye my hair. They really wanted me to shave my head, but we compromised because of the cold weather."

Once donations surpassed that mark, the students wished to collect on their bargain with Bell. "The kids kept their part of the deal and reached their goal a week before the deadline. So, each class got to vote on three options for my hair: one solid, bright color; two colors; or a rainbow. Of course, rainbow won hands down. I also used this experience to teach a mini character lesson in keeping your word or promise, on being honorable," Bell said.

According to Bell, the school's KHC donations will go to the AHA, where they help fund lifesaving research, advocate for better health, improve patient care, and reach at-risk populations.

"Our Zoom celebration 'Pie in the Face' was an idea that came from other KHC organizers. Plus, it was an activity we could still do given the times we are living in. Besides, what kid wouldn't want to pie a teacher?"

Meadowlark personnel who participated in the assembly were volunteers that agreed to support the heart healthy heroes in their KHC endeavors. The only volunteer who didn't take a pie to the face was Victoria Reynolds, a student teacher in Ms. Jones second grade classroom.

Based on dollars raised, the top three grades were Kindergarten in first place with $872 raised, fourth grade with $575, and sixth grade with $447. However, the third graders weren't far behind with their $402.

Pie in the Face volunteers were Mr. Shane Bartschi, Meadowlark Elementary School Principal; Victoria Reynolds, student teacher; Ms. Melinda Jones, Second Grade Teacher; Janelle Deanon, Fifth/Sixth Grade Teacher; Kelsey Harry, School Librarian; Shandel Fouts, Fourth Grade Teacher; Sheena Barber, Second Grade Teacher; and in front behind the gorilla mask, Emily Scofield who teaches third grade.

During the KHC, children collected donations door-to-door or online through the KHC page for Meadowlark Elementary School where they could track their progress. Students could also download an app that allowed them to play games, to complete various trainings such as for stroke and CPR, or to engage in activities such as fundraising emails, e-cards, and social media posts.