Sue Loughlin
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
On Monday, Ouabache Elementary plans to show its Colts pride as it attempts to win a $10,000 National Football League health and wellness grant.
The school would like to win the grant to pave its track, which currently consists of dirt and grass, said Michele Kirby, school counselor.
The project is part of the NFL-Play 60 Back to Football Friday contest, an NFL effort to encourage children to be active 60 minutes each day.
The NFL is awarding 34 grants, each worth $10,000, and the grants are to be used by schools for health and fitness.
Schools that win by showing the most NFL pride will be named NFL Play 60 Super Schools and receive a visit from an NFL player and the $10,000 grant.
Ouabache has a full day of activities lined up and the public also can participate, Kirby said.
Monday’s events will include the Colts in Motion traveling museum, two inflatables and the Peyton Manning Quarterback Toss, which will be at the school from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The public is invited to the outdoor event.
Also, 100.7 MIX-FM will do a live broadcast from noon to 1 p.m. outside, with a giveaway to the “Biggest Fan.” Again, the public is invited to attend and wear Colts attire.
Academic activities will have a football theme, as will the school’s breakfast and lunch menus. Lunch will include Peyton Manning Burgers, 3rd Down Dogs, Freeney fries, Spicy Saturday apples and Quarterback Cookies.
Troy Fears and the United Way of the Wabash Valley will set up a booth and pass out footballs to children.
In the morning, Indiana State University cheerleaders will lead a pep rally at the school, and later in the day, Terre Haute North football players are expected to work with the children in some physical activities.
“Hopefully that day, kids will have 60 minutes of physical activities at school,” Kirby said.
Ouabache also is issuing a challenge to all other Vigo County schools next week to support the Colts while raising money for this year’s districtwide designated charities, the Light House Mission and the Salvation Army.
Kirby said other schools are being encouraged to raise money for those two organizations by having fundraisers with a Colts theme.
Students are being encouraged to wear blue and white or any Colts attire, and at some point during the day, the student body will form a large horseshoe outside and an aerial photo will be taken (from a bucket truck).
The track will cost more than $15,000, Kirby said, and “a $10,000 grant would go a long way.” The school has conducted other fundraisers as well.
Currently, the track consists of dirt and grass, and when it rains, “It’s a mudhole,” she said.
The school has reinstituted a walking program this year, but it’s difficult to use the track when it rains and during wintry weather.
Even if the school doesn’t win the grant, the day’s activities “are good community-building and good for us as a school,” Kirby said. It also will get kids excited and motivated about learning and physical activity.
But the school really wants to win. “I can’t imagine what it would mean to our school and the kids to have a track” for walking, running and other activities, Kirby said.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
