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Local News

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Weekend: Wii Fit a big hit among Hancock County schools
By DENISE GRANT

Staff Writer

Students in Hancock County Schools are working out more than their thumbs with Nintendo's Wii video game system.

All seven Hancock County school districts are outfitted with a Wii Sport system, including Wii Fit. The game systems were bought last school year with a $3,000 grant from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.

Physical education teacher Jana Amstutz, and Lisa Salsburey, a physical therapist, both with the Hancock County Educational Service Center, wrote the grant, hoping to get everyone moving. It is working.

Last school year, the focus was on improving the physical fitness of students in third through sixth grade, and measuring that improvement.

Students from the University of Findlay helped with teacher training.

Volunteers and a "target group" of students at each school district measured their fitness levels before and after a four- to six-week exercise program. About 40 percent of the grade schoolers showed improvement in running speed, agility, balance, coordination and strength.

A program for body mass index offers new levels of play as a reward for progress.

Wii Fit is played while standing on balance board. The system measures body weight and equilibrium. The goal is to stand, squat, lean and move, through 40 different challenges, without losing balance or falling off the board.

Wii Sport, with games like tennis, baseball and bowling, help make it fun and motivating, Amstutz said.

She was pleased with the results, especially considering it was difficult for students to find work-out time. Participating students either had to come to school early or stay late to get their exercise done.

"If anything makes the argument that students need to spend time in physical education daily, this did," Amstutz said.

Students in Hancock County Schools have physical education classes only twice a week, for about 40 minutes at a time.

Recent surveys conducted by the Hancock County Obesity Task Force show that about 38 percent of the county's students are overweight or obese.

Amstutz said the project also helped demonstrate to the county's physical education teachers the importance of evaluating the fitness levels of students.

Amstutz said the project also emphasized student use of math, science and technology while using the system. She said the academics helped to secure the grant.

Salsburey said the game system has also been a good source of exercise for students with limited mobility and those who are in wheelchairs. It is a fun workout, she said, and a nice break in their physical therapy routines.

This school year, the schools have been free to create their own programs using their new Wii system.

Amstutz said Arcadia School is using its system for a high-level fitness program for juniors and seniors. The system can be "intense," she said, but students like that it moves quickly and keeps them active.

The school is also using the Wii to provide an extra station, and an extra chance to participate, when classes are playing games like tennis or racquetball, which allow for only a few players at a time.

Cory-Rawson Schools are using the system in their health classes, and Van Buren allows students routine access to the games.

"We were just so excited. It has been a big hit and has been a really good way to promote fitness," said Salsburey.

Grant: 419-427-8412,

Send an e-mail to Denise Grant


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This video, released by the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office, shows the shooting of a Lima man who led authorities on a three-county chase ending Aug.24 in Benton Ridge. Be cautioned, the video contains graphic content.
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After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

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Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

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The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

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Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

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