The American Heart Association and the National Football League teamed up to support heart health through CPR education. For every 18 online learning modules completed through the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge, a school was entered to win a $10,000 physical activity equipment makeover.
Kyle Wilson Elementary School was one of five schools across the country to win. In early September, school staff, along with Superintendent of Schools Dr. LaTanya D. McDade, joined the Washington Commanders mascot and cheerleaders in the school’s gymnasium.
Danielle Epolito and Geraldo Hernandez, health & physical education (P.E.) teachers at Kyle Wilson Elementary, shared how excited the students are to participate in the Kids Heart Challenge.
"The kids love participating in this event each year. They take pride in accomplishing their individual, class, and school goals. The heart heroes become our mascots, teaching us so many valuable lessons.”
As part of the Kids Heart Challenge, students complete “Finn’s Mission,” a program named for nine-year-old Finn Blumenthal who was born with congenital heart disease. Kyle Wilson had a record number of missions completed, ranking them second in Virginia and sixth in the nation.
“For us, wellness is our number one priority in P.E. Through partnering with the American Heart Association, we’re able to discuss all the important facts of heart disease and measures we can do to prevent that from happening,” said Hernandez. “In our P.E. class, we’re able to create activities and just promote our lifelong skills that can hopefully prevent that from happening to our students.”
PWCS works with the American Heart Association to promote heart healthy information to students and families. During the 2023-24 school year, 49 PWCS schools participated in the Kids Heart Challenge and the following schools were named “Mission Impact Schools” for the number of families that completed “Finn’s Mission.”
- Antietam Elementary School
- Bristow Run Elementary School
- Cedar Point Elementary School
- Covington-Harper Elementary School
- Haymarket Elementary School
- Kyle Wilson Elementary School
- Marshall Elementary School
- Occoquan Elementary School
- Pattie Elementary School
- Victory Elementary School
Along with the Kids Heart Challenge, several PWCS students work to promote heart healthy information to their peers as Heart Warrior Ambassadors or Advocate Ambassadors for the American Heart Association.
PWCS is proud of its continued “HEARTnership” with the American Heart Association. You can learn more about the Kids Heart Challenge on the American Heart Association website.