BOKS Kids Physical Activity Program Comes to St. Juliana School

CHICAGO - Nov. 21, 2013 - PRLog -- St. Juliana School announces the addition of BOKS, Build Our Kids’ Success, in their school. A free before-school physical activity program aimed to get kids moving in the morning and their brains ready for a day of learning, this is only the fourth school in Chicago to implement BOKS, and the first within the Archdiocese of Chicago’s school system.

BOKS was begun by a group of elementary school moms inspired by the book, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, written by Dr. John Ratey, associate clinical professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Ratey states that exercise is the single most powerful tool we have to optimize the function of our brains. His research is supported by a recent study by the National Institute on Out-of-School Time, which demonstrates that exercise before school can have a dramatic impact on students’ performance and behavior.

“Through our BOKS initiative we have a bold ambition to reverse the sedentary behavior of our young people and get them to enjoy the benefits of an active life. One of the biggest benefits of BOKS is that it impacts the whole community and creates a healthier whole child, affecting kids on a physical, mental and social level,” says Kathleen Tullie, Co‐Founder and Executive Director of BOKS and Director of Social Responsibility at Reebok International.

Katrina McDermott, principal of St. Juliana School, tell us, “In addition to promoting healthy activity and nutritional habits, BOKS is also a great fit for our “green” theme.”

Mary Hazzard, a parent at the school, coordinated all efforts to bring BOKS to St. Juliana. Mrs. Hazzard applied and was chosen as a BOKS Activation Grant recipient and now manages a team of adult and middle-school volunteers, who lead students in grades K-5 through organized BOKS activities for 30 minutes a day, two mornings per week. There is no cost to participate.

About St. Juliana School
St. Juliana School has faithfully served Catholic families in the Edison Park, Niles and Park Ridge communities for over 85 years. High academic achievement, strong spiritual development and service to others characterize St. Juliana School students. Extracurricular programs in athletics, fine arts, and scouting provide students with additional opportunities for growth and exploration. A ministry of St. Juliana Parish, the school welcomes children of all faiths, from preschool through eighth grade.