Play 60 Super School Parma Park Elementary Sponsors “Race To The Bus”

Parma Park Elementary has been rated as Excellent With Distinction in Academics for the past couple of years. They also have bragging rights for their Health & Wellness programs. For the 2nd year in a row, Parma Park Elementary School was awarded the NFL Play 60 Super School Grant. As part of the proposal and to kick off football season, Parma Park PTA sponsored a Back to Football Friday Event. This tailgate party was held during the students’ recess and involved obstacle courses, football tossing, kicking, running and other healthy activities. The students were encouraged to wear the colors of their team of choice.

After the event, the NFL invited the schools to submit three essays and photos of their event. PTA Health and Wellness Chair, Cathy Sibilski, penned the essay submissions. Since we are in Browns’ town, the NFL $10,000 grant would be awarded by the Cleveland Browns at a school assembly where everyone was dressed in brown and orange. Not only were there Browns players in the house, but the local news stations had representatives there, too. How exciting for the students, teachers and PTA!

As an added bonus, the NFL requested another essay submission to help locate the “Ultimate Super Parent in Health and Wellness” which was sponsored by Procter & Gamble – Prilosec OTC. Since Cathy had worked so hard on both year’s events and essays as well as the other fitness events that she coordinates, it was obvious as to whom should be recommended for this honor at Parma Park. The NFL agreed as well since she was selected as the Cleveland Browns Super Parent representative. With this honor, $1,000 was donated in her name to Parma Park Elementary for Health and Wellness.

Julie Sisunik, Parma Park PTA President, was giddy with happiness the morning she received the call that the school had won again - for the 2nd year in a row. She advised me that 2010-11’s $10,000 grant was spent on gym equipment such as exercise balls, disk golf, stationary bikes and indoor/outdoor recess equipment such as scooters.

For the 2011-12 grant, she told me that the Parma Park PTA wanted to share their health and wellness initiative with the entire Parma City School District by inviting everyone to participate in a 5K Run or 1 Mile Family Fun Walk. This event is open to the entire Cleveland Browns community.

The “Race to the Bus” event will be held on Sunday, April 29, 2012. A portion of the grant will be used to fund this event. All Parma City School District students will receive free registration. For all other participants, the cost will be $15 for early registration by April 27, 2012 or $18 on race day.

Race to the Bus will begin and end at Parma Park Elementary, 6800 Commonwealth Blvd., Parma Heights. The 5K Race will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the Family Fun Walk will kick off at 10 a.m. Goody bags, to include the official Race to the Bus T-shirt – designed by a Park Park Elementary student – will be received by each racer upon checking in on race day.

For the registrants, lunch will be provided by Chuppa's Catering. Food and refreshments will also be available for purchase by spectators. Other event activities will include health screenings, raffle baskets, two inflatables and an award ceremony.

To find out more information and to register, go to www.hermesCleveland.com.