Fairview PE teacher gives kids exercise breaks from their driveways

Posted on March 25, 2020
Illinois schools won’t reopen until April 8 at the earliest. (Photo courtesy: Heart of Illinois ABC)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

NORMAL – One physical education teacher is not letting her students turn into couch potatoes as they wait for schools to re-open.

Jamie Wheelwright, of Fairview Elementary, is driving around and encouraging kids to move.

“There’s a lot of negative attitudes towards kids and it’s always head down on their phone and it’s all about technology,” Wheelwright said. “But, these kids are desperate to connect with their peers, their neighbors and their teachers.”

Wheelwright says these workouts, which she only does with permission from parents ahead of time, is a welcome break for her and the kids.

She stays close to her car to make sure she’s practicing social distancing.

Illinois schools won’t reopen until April 8 at the earliest.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…