Hallowell Students Get Fit for 'Spirit Day'

Amid a sea of red, white and blue star-spangled baseball caps, l students learned the importance of forming healthy habits and getting physical.

As part of the school's annual Spirit Day, students - who themselves are not old enough to remember the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks - paid homage to heroes with patriotic caps during a morning assembly led by principal Steve Glaize.

While Spirit Day has been a mainstay the last five years, Glaize told Patch that this year marked the first time the events were aligned with Patriot Day. During the first half of the 45-minute activities surrounded around the "Go for Three Spirit Day," Glaize shared some healthy habits, including brushing your teeth, eating healthy and making your bed and how students can make those activity part of their routines. 

"It takes at least three weeks for something to become a habit," Glaize said. 

Dr. Aaron Oberst, commonly referred to as Dr. Drill, in true military fashion, led the kids in stretching and physical fitness activities which culminated with a "tug of teamwork" instead of a typical tug of war. 

“Go for Three Spirit Day” ties in with the district’s ongoing “7 Habits of Happy Kids” initiative, which emphasizes leadership, teamwork and communication. That program will continue throughout the 2012-13 school year in the messages students hear and the goal setting started by Hatboro-Horsham and Hallowell educators, staff and administrators.