Get Up Go

Welcome to our News and Announcements page! We're excited about what's happening with the Get Up & Go Campaign and we want to tell you all about it. Check here daily for the latest news, announcements and events. (Click for more about our Campaign) You can also check out our News Archives for past stories and events!!!
Students Learn that Health and Fitness Can Be Fun with Get Up & Go! Attention All Neighborhoods And Strong-Go Is His Name-O! The Strength of Connected Communities Get Up & Go Visit on World Harmony Run Website Read What People are Saying, Send Your Comment Craig Virgin Says "It's Time to Get Up & Go!" Time to Get Up & Go Celebrate! May 10th
Students at High Mount Learn that Health and Fitness Can Be Fun with Get Up & Go! Ms. Jubinski's Fourth Grade Class Students from the High Mount School in Swansea finished up their “Get Up & Go” activities with a pizza party courtesy of Dominos Pizza and Pizza Hut this week. Ms. Brink's Fourth Grade Class Fourth Graders from Ms. Jubinski and Ms. Brink’s class and third graders from Ms. Knowlton’s class participated in this year’s name the Mascot Contest in the 1st Annual Health and Fitness Challenge for residence of St. Clair County. To reward their efforts and encourage them on the road to a fit and healthy summer, local managers from Pizza Hut and Dominos shared their thanks with a pizza treat. Ms. Knowlton's Third Grade Class Each of the teachers challenged their students to get more active by having them engage in regular activities like weekly swimming classes and walking three times a week as part of the school’s walking team. Ms. Knowlton commented “we record our miles to see how many we can walk over a monthly period. The School's Walking Committee helps us calculate and keep track of our miles. They do a great job!”
And Strong-Go Is His Name-O! Thanks to Miss Phelps and her 1st Grade Class at Scott Elementary. Now we know what to call our friend. And to tell you the truth, I’m beginning to think he is strong enough to lift up all of St. Clair County. Pictured are Jessica Pettis, Kol Johnson and Nathan Wilson with Strong-Go When we decided to enlist the help of the area elementary schools to come up with a name for our Mascot, we also wanted to know why they chose that name, why they thought fitness was important and what they were doing to stay healthy. Classes from all over the county took part in the contest and with the help of a group of SIUE student nurses as judges we now have a name for our little green friend. After hours of deliberations between the judges they chose the name Miss Suzanna Phelps’ 1st Grade Class at Scott Elementary School submitted: Stronggo We chose the name Stronggo for the mascot because he is strong and on the go. He can lift up (motivate) a whole St. Clair County in Illinois and get the people to be fit and healthy! It is important to be fit because it helps our body stay healthy and allows us to be active when we need to be active. Also, it helps our body to not become sick. We are walking each day (weather permitting) for 10 to 15 minutes outside. On bad weather days we are doing balance activities in the classroom. We are logging our progress on the 'Walk Across Illinois' website. A big part of the Get Up & Go Campaign is to get people thinking about their health and then Get Up & do something to make it better. Reading the contest entries from the students, I think they not only got the message, but maybe they could teach us a thing or two. Here are some excerpts: Being fit means being healthy and a healthy body and mind enables us to cope with daily stresses. We know that it is important to take care of our bodies in order to live long healthy lives. As an entire school, we are participating in a mile walk tomorrow. We are encouraging our students to "Get Up and Go" and to work our way to becoming healthier human beings. We want to live a long time. Fitness Is Terrific. Our class chose F.I.T. because we felt it best represented the overall theme of Get Up & Go. The class feels it is important to be F.I.T. at any age and to stay fit throughout your life. A huge thanks goes out to all the schools and students that participated. Word is that several area Pizza places have donated parties to reward all this hard work. And thanks especially to the teachers and faculty who have help spread the word of good Health and Fitness to our next generation. We are sure they will be Strong (Go) leaders. Click here for a list of Schools that Participated.
The Strength of Connected Communities Probably the most frequent question we hear is, “What do you mean by ‘Connected Communities’ and why is that important?” Our lives are filled with communities. We live in our neighborhood community and that’s part of our city or town community. We might work in another community, with different friends, and share our faith in still another. Our schools are academic communities and if we are a professional or skilled trade we might be part of the medical, legal, financial or construction community. We even have different sports and entertainment communities. We believe that by bringing those communities together and sharing our resources we can improve not only the health of everyone in our larger community, but improve the overall quality of life where we live, work and play. Everything that the Get Up & Go Campaign has achieved has been through the cooperation and participation of the people and organizations of our communities. By working together we have been able to achieve things that none of us could have achieved alone. What’s more, we have had fun doing it and have made strong new connections that have lifted us up. We have walked and ran with new friends for a good cause, we have given encouragement and support to those in need, and we have drawn inspiration from some of the youngest and oldest members of our communities. In a few short weeks we have come together to improve our health, our lifestyles and our future. And by working together we know that we’ll have the support to see it through. All things considered, we’re off to a pretty good start! You can read more from our Celebration Booklet Get Up & Go 2008 - Connecting Communities through Health and Fitness by clicking here (3Mb Download)
Get Up & Go Visit on World Harmony Run Website The arrival of the World Harmony Runners and the international torch at the end of the Get Up & Go Celebration brought a very special close to a very special day. These runners who have traveled on foot across the nation carry something with them in addition to the torch. They carry hope and inspiration. It's hard to explain the feelings that run through a person when asked to hold the torch or carry it for a short way on their journey. Reverend Annie Clark was so impressed that she is looking forward to seeing them again when their paths will cross in July in Wisconsin at a National meeting of local boards of health. "This was certainly a great day! And I look forward to next year and the years to follow with our communities fully connected in improved health for all." While all of us at the Race for Character and Get Up & Go were thrilled to have the World Harmony Run come through our event, it seem that they enjoyed the experience as well. They have included pictures and comments from their visit on their own website. You can read their comments and see their photos at http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/usa/news/2008/week04/0510b They particularly enjoyed meeting with a dear friend of their founder and our own Honorary Chairman, Craig Virgin. Craig had the chance to chat with the runners and share his own stories about the World Harmony Run founder Sri Chinmoy. Chinmoy was an artist, poet, athlete and one of the most noted peace activists of the 20th century. Craig told how back in the 80's, at the height of his running career, Chinmoy had invited him to New York to honor Craig's work and had written him a poem. (Craig promised to find it for us.) We want to thank the runners again for altering their route and sharing their journey, inspiration and support with us. With their words of encouragement, and those from the countless people who have emailed and called with their own congratulations on the campaign and wishes for continued success, we know that it's going to be a good year for everyone. We wish them 'good running' on their journey around the country and the world. (And even a hope for some blue skies and fair winds!) You can find out more about the World Harmony Run at www.WorldHarmonyRun.org/usa




News Archives 2008 Race for Character and Get Up & Go a Huge Success! 2008 Race for Character Slideshow Get Up & Go Fair and Celebration Slideshow Jen's Photos from Get Up & Go! 3 Miles of Smiles - 2008 Race for Character Deb's Photos from May 10th Race Results for Race For Character World Torch Relay to Arrive Saturday at Get Up & Go Celebration! Let The Sun Shine and Let's Celebrate! All Systems GO! Local Rock Legend to Emcee Get Up & Go Event Time to Get Up & Go Celebrate! May 10th Law Day 2008 Run Biggest Ever! Law Day Run 2008 Race Results Freeburg Shows It's a Get Up & Go Community! Village of Smithton Family Fun Day Craig Virgin Says "It's Time to Get Up & Go!" Belleville Animal Clinic to Offer Free Pet Health Screenings at May 10th Get Up & Go Celebration! The Race For Character Is Back For Another Year SWIC 2008 Summer Camps Announced Healthy Cooking is on the Menu for These Young Chefs! Young Chefs Learn the Joy of Cooking (Slideshow) Schools Sign Up to Give Get Up & Go a Great Start.	Communities Proclaim its time to GET UP & GO!!! Annual Scrivner Dinner Provides Big Push to Get Up & Go (Slideshow) See the Pictures from Healthy Kids Day sponsored by the Downtown Belleville YMCA Honorary Chairman and Hall of Famer Craig Virgin to Speak at Annual Health Foundation Dinner See the 4th Annual Scrivner Dinner Slideshow Even Man's Best Friend Wants You to... Get Up & GO!!! The American Cancer Society has joined the Get Up & Go Campaign. Communities Proclaim its time to GET UP & GO!!! Village of East Carondelet Helps Lead the Way Kick-Off a Chilly Success Get Up & Go... to the SWIC Belleville Campus Volunteers Build New Playground Extension at Whiteside. See the Whiteside Construction Slideshow Name the Mascot Contest Begins!!! Local Scout Troops Make Get Up & Go a Big Success!!!! See the Scouts Slideshow Medical Alliance Gives $1,000 to Get Up & Go! Illinois Distributing Donates Signs,Banner for Campaign County Board Chairman Proclaims April 2008 Get Up & Go Month! Get Up & Go Kickoff Event set for Saturday March 29th, 2:00pm at SWIC Belleville Campus Check Out our Picture Gallery from the Kick-Off For Our Full News Archive Click Here