DES students, staff show off their moves

Dan Dan Elementary School teachers and staff joined the students and even parents for Physical Fitness Day—an hour of fun in the sun. Two pupils were also chosen as recipients of Hard Rock Café’s Cool Kids gift certificates for being the school’s top students.

DES principal Jonas Barcinas and teachers led the students in performing the exercise activity, which is held every Friday involving students from kindergarten to 6th grade.

“We want healthy minds, healthy bodies. As leaders, as educators, as adults, we teach them; that’s the only way they can grow and learn to take good care of themselves,” said Barcinas.

He encouraged other schools to create a similar program for students and teachers, saying this activity helps both students and teachers release stress.

Students Fannie Forbes and Vivalyn Yangirelit said they find this activity fun and exciting. Together, they did exercises and watched others exhibit their talents in break-dancing, and handstands. Surprising the crowd, Barcinas did a one-hand back flip followed by several flips.

Roderick O. Zandueta, local sales and marketing executive for Hard Rock Café, presented two gift certificates for its Kool Kids program, an incentive plan for students who show the most progress in school.

“For the kids to be able to get the certificate, they have to be the top student—academic wise and saving the planet, picking up the trash…being the top student of all,” Zandueta said.

The teachers came together to discuss their nominees for the best student. When they broke up an announced their decision, Timothy Tawanpiy and Terivine Andratico were the two lucky winners of the gift certificate for Kool Kids.

Certificates were also granted to several other schools: San Antonio, William S. Reyes, and Garapan elementary schools. The Kool Kids program will also distribute gift certificates to other schools.