The entire student body, faculty, and staff of West Hartford’s Smith STEM school simultaneously participated in a ‘#GimmeFive’ choreographed dance to ‘Uptown Funk’ as part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s challenge.
By Michelle Bonner
Four hundred Smith STEM school students, teachers and staff celebrated A.C.E.S (All Children Exercising Simultaneously) day on Wednesday, May 6 in the Smith STEM School gym by accepting First Lady Michelle Obama’s #GimmeFive challenge and celebrating her “Let’s Move in Schools Program” initiative.
The entire school danced simultaneously to “Uptown Funk,” choreographed by the award winning dance crew from the TV show “So You Think You Can Dance.” The dance, which is called “Gimme Five”, represents Mrs. Obama’s “5 things” people are doing to eat better, be more active, and lead a healthier life.“Michelle Obama’s push to end childhood obesity is extraordinary,” said Kathy Miller, Smith STEM School P.E. Teacher.
“This is a big problem that calls for an even bigger solution and I’m on that bandwagon. I get all my kids moving in their PE classes, but this year I focused on having the conversations about what healthy living is and talked with the kids about 5 ways to be healthy. The children came up with some really great ways to keep themselves fit and strong. And now we are ready to accept Mrs. Obama’s #GimmeFive challenge.”
A number of celebrities have accept the #GimmeFive challenge, including Ellen DeGeneres who earlier this year performed the new Gimme Five dance.
This is Smith STEM School’s 12th year participating in the A.C.E.S day. “If we are going to try and make a difference in preventing childhood obesity,” says Miller, “we need to do this together.”
