LI schoolkids dance way to health award

At 8:45 every morning, the gymnasium in Northwest Elementary School in Amityville becomes a dance party.

Physical education teacher Brian White leads 6- and 7-year-old students, teachers and sometimes the principal in cardio routines set to music as part of the school's fight against childhood obesity.

Last fall, officials began working toward the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's Bronze National Recognition Award, which required them to improve the school's food and exercise programs.

Northwest was one of 275 schools in the country to receive the award -- and the only one on Long Island.

"We saw this as a good opportunity to put some changes into effect that would help the kids eat healthier and increase their activity," school nurse Kathy Nardi said.

Each day used to begin with students sitting around for 15 minutes, White said. Now it starts with cardio to get hearts pumping and blood flowing.

"We do the Cha Cha Slide, the Macarena and a couple of other ones," he said. "They love it."

Students are calmer afterward, he said, and more focused. The routine is in addition to daily recess and gym classes twice a week.

School food has been the hardest thing to change, Nardi said. Getting parents to send healthy snacks also has been a struggle, principal Shirley Martin said.

"The parents want to send cupcakes," Martin said. "And of course, fruit is more expensive."

School officials did their best in the cafeteria, Nardi said. Fruit is now served with breakfast and high-sugar items like strawberry milk and some cereals were eliminated.

Martin said other schools could make the same improvements. "It's manageable. And the research tells us it's certainly worth it."