PPrien Lake Elementary
Running Club
Letter written by a parent
To Whom It May Concern:
The fundamental nature of American childhood has changed in a single generation. The unstructured outdoor
childhood - days of pick-up baseball games, tree houses, and "be home for dinner" - has all but vanished. Today,
childhood is spent mostly indoors, watching television, playing video games, and working the Internet.
As a parent and teacher, the dynamic yet restricted hobbies of children today are yielding results in the classroom
that are less than average. The Prien Lake Running Club, lead by teacher Paula Bruchhaus, allows students an
innovative avenue to pursue peer interaction while addressing physical needs. Children today tend to get
outdoor exercise by appointment in competitive organizations. The running club allows kids to set attainable
goals, monitor success, and be rewarded on growth as an individual. Mrs. Bruchhaus has collaborated with
numerous businesses in the community gaining business partners eager to empower kids' involvement in the
running club. The goals set forth by the club were merited with items purchased through funds from business
partners. Mrs. Bruchhaus also paralleled academics in an attractive manner; the students meet each week to
graph miles, hear uplifting speakers, and discuss upcoming events.
Boundaries for kids used to be measured by blocks or miles. Now, the boundary for most kids is the front yard.
By organizing the running club, Mrs. Bruchhaus is offering an alternative for students to enhance their lifestyle
early as well as contributing to success in the classroom.
Mrs. Bruchhaus' efforts have truly impacted the community's involvement in taking a step toward altering childhood
obesity and setting a foundation for families to work as a team in prioritizing exercise and eating healthy. Our
family's perspective on the importance of exercise as a whole has been changed!
Regards,
Melissa S. Little
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