TURNER ES: Houston Rockets Star Isaiah Canaan Visits Students
Houston Rockets NBA star Isaiah Canaan paid a very special visit to Turner Elementary School on Friday, Oct. 18, 2013 after it was announced that Turner won this year's Rockets Be Fit Rally.
Any Turner Elementary student knows that exercising and eating right has its benefits: 1) You stay healthy; 2) you get in shape; and 3) you get to do the Monster Mash dance with an NBA star – at least that was the case on Friday when Houston Rockets point guard, Isaiah Canaan stopped by the school for the team’s annual Be Fit Rally.
“We are just so honored and thrilled that he and the other Rockets staff visited our school for the Rally,” Jackie Caver, Turner Elementary P.E. teacher said. “The kids were so excited that he was there and they had so much fun with Mr. Canaan.”
Turner Elementary was selected as this year’s Be Fit Challenge winner, granting students bragging rights, a brief break from the classroom, and a Be Fit Rally where the entire school learned some cool dance moves from Canaan and other Rockets entertainers.
But that’s not all.
Hidden behind a tall white curtain was a fun surprise. Silence filled the air as a Rockets staff member cut through the curtain to reveal several Wii Fit games and virtual exercise equipment for the school.
Excitement in the form of loud screams could be heard throughout the entire gym as students gazed in amazement at all the Wii fitness equipment.
“I’m just so proud of the kids because these kids did the work,” Caver said. “Every day after school they kept track of what they ate, how long they exercised – for young people to accomplish that is pretty impressive. They were motivated and they had their parent’s support. Without that motivation, the rally would not have happened. They deserve this.”
Presented by Memorial Hermann and the Houston Rockets, the Be Fit Rally and the Be Fit Challenge were part of a month- long initiative that encouraged students to practice healthy behaviors, and parents to be involved in their children’s healthy lifestyles.
Students who participated in the challenge had to record all of their healthy behaviors onto a score card that was tallied up and submitted to the P.E. teacher at the end of each week.
Scores were based on a point system. Students received 10 points for every serving of fruits and veggies, 10 points for every 30 minutes of physical activity, and 5 points for every 8 ounce glass of water.
For a school to win the challenge, they needed to rank highest in the number of students participating.
Turner students racked up 386,620 total points with 409 participating.
Let’s just call their effort a slam dunk.
