The Morning Mile program has been an incredible success at Healthy Learning Academy! We had been conducting an informal walking program over the past years, but becoming an official part of the Morning Mile program has inspired children to walk/run more than ever each day! Many parents have informed me that they no longer have to battle to get their children out of bed each day. The children are now eager to get to school as early as possible to get in the maximum walking/running time. The program has had an unintended positive impact on what has been an ongoing issue at our school, tardiness. At a recent School Advisory Council meeting, we were reviewing our School Improvement Plan and looking at our attendance goals. One parent asked, “Has the Morning Mile affected tardiness?” I replied that tardies had been reduced significantly and then realized that we could actually use this as a strategy for our ongoing School Improvement Plan to continue to decrease our tardies. What a wonderful bonus!! We have not compiled our tardy comparison data, but I will update you with it once the school year is over. Thank you so much, Fitz, for implementing the Morning Mile program in Alachua County and inviting us to join!
—-Anni Egan Principal Healthy Learning Academy
