GO! ST. LOUIS AND SAINT LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARTNER TO

More Than 20,000 Area Students Are Expected to Participate in Program that Stresses Importance of Literacy, Character Development and Physical Fitness.

GO! St. Louis, a not-for-profit organization that specializes in presenting fitness events and programs for the region on a year-round basis, announced today that it has reached a partnership agreement with the Saint Louis Public Schools, which is Missouri’s largest school district, to introduce the GO! St. Louis Read, Right & Run Marathon® program into the district’s core curriculum for the 2008-09 school year.

The GO! St. Louis Read, Right & Run Marathon program started in 2001 and has been nationally recognized within the running community as a model youth program. The program encourages students to Read 26 books, Right the community with 26 good deeds and Run 26 miles in a six-month period. For the past eight years the program has been open to schools and individual students throughout the region. Last year more than 3,000 students from 92 schools participated in the program. With the Saint Louis Public School’s involvement this year, an estimated 24,000 students will be impacted by the innovative youth initiative.

Since its inception, area students have read 248,500 books, completed 248,500 good deeds and run 250,210 miles toward completing the program’s goals. Support for the Read, Right & Run Marathon is presented by the Centene Corporation and underwritten by the St. Louis Rams.
“I applaud the commitment from the Saint Louis Pubic Schools and especially Leanne White (Physical Education Supervisor for SLPS) for recognizing the value of the program and championing its incorporation into the District’s curriculum, “ Said Nancy Lieberman, president GO! St. Louis. “The fight against the high rate of child obesity, improving literacy rates and fostering good character development are the key objectives of the program and important goals in developing our local youth”, she continued.

“As the Saint Louis Public School District continues to identify new and inspiring ways to motivate our young students to achieve, we believe the core objectives of the Read, Right & Run Marathon fits perfectly into our curriculum,” said Rick Sullivan, CEO, Special Administrative Board for the Saint Louis Public Schools. “The Read, Right & Run Marathon is a top quality program that has impacted the development of thousands of area children, since its inception, and I’m excited to offer it to our students in the district”, he continued.

How the Program Works:The program begins in early October after identifying individual coordinators at each school. Coordinators are comprised of physical fitness educators, literacy coaches, parents or other program leaders. Coordinators are required to work closely with a GO! St. Louis representative to plan and schedule activities to help reach program goals. Each student receives a colorful 50-page journal that not only helps them chart their progress, but offers book suggestions, service projects and healthy eating tips. In November a kick-off event is held at a local park, which introduces the students to the program’s three main objectives through book readings, recycling tips from REI and a one mile trail run. After the six-month program ends, each student receives a finisher medal and certificate to celebrate their outstanding achievement. Participating schools are also encouraged to hold celebrations at each school to highlight the student’s achievement.

Read, Right & Run Marathon registration is currently in open enrollment for schools and individuals interested in participating during the 2008-09 school year. Contact Mona Langenberg, Director of Youth Programs at GO! St. Louis for more information, 314-727-0800 or visit http://www.gostlouis.org/.

In addition to the Read, Right & Run Marathon program, GO! St. Louis coordinates a variety of youth initiatives, including: Youth & Family Summer Track Series, Students on the GO! and children’s fun runs.

GO! St. Louis, a non-profit organization, encourages individuals and families in the region to adopt a healthy lifestyle by getting fit, staying active, and eating a nutritional diet year round. The organization accomplishes this through school based programming, outreach to senior/retirement centers, community collaborations and the creation of new and unique fitness opportunities. Source: www.slps.org

Parents and St. Louis Citizens who support St. Louis Public Schools. Look at the bright side of St. Louis Public Schools.