Vaughn Elementary wins fourth straight President’s Council on physical fitness

Peninsula School District students perform highly in five skill sets

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

On doors and hallways throughout Vaughn Elementary School on the Key Peninsula, a common slogan urges the students to compete, exercise and strive to be their best.

The phrase is, “You gotta want it.”

The students — albeit young in age — have taken the slogan and run with it.

Literally.

Vaughn learned last month that it won its fourth consecutive President’s Council on physical fitness state championship by having more presidential award winners than any other school in the state with an enrollment of 200-500 students.

The sixth-graders who won last year returned to Vaughn and were recognized for their achievement during an assembly that was held after press time on Tuesday.

“This celebrates how hard these kids work out there,” said Marc Ross, PE specialist at Vaughn. “I had more kids asking about the results. I’m getting more parents calling and wondering what the results are.”

Fifteen percent of the kids (50 students) who participate earn the presidential designation. It requires the completion of five skills at a high level: flexibility, endurance, situps, pushups and the shuttle run.

The hardest to do in a presidential time is the endurance, Ross said, because it can take some time to meet presidential standards.

Students like fifth-grader Garrett Cranford and fourth-grader Alana Willms sacrifice their recess or lunch times to retake the test in order to qualify for a presidential performance.

There is no limit to taking the test, but the deadline is May 10.

Cranford said he’s received the presidential designation the past two years, and the mile run is his favorite.

“I’m running for a club in Gig Harbor,” Cranford said. “It helps me a lot.”

Willms has earned the presidential designation since she was in first grade. She’s noticed her performance has increased as she’s aged.

“It helps kids get in shape and get fit,” Willms said. “If they’re not fit, it’ll be hard for them to do things.

“It’s really fun. I definitely think other kids should do it.”

Ross said the support he’s receiving across the board seems to be growing. He added the kids are showing a sense of entitlement to continue winning the award.

“The kids are preparing a month, two months in advance,” Ross said “They’re getting that visual and understanding.”

Ross said he believes it provides a way for kids to focus on goals and achieve them.

“I know the kids who are achieving national or presidential show better restraint with their behavior,” Ross said.

There are two other elementary schools in the district that participate in the competition. Vaughn has been participating for the past 10 years.