Let's Go Walkin' Mississippi!

School Success

Pecan Park Elementary

Situated in the heart of inner-city Jackson, Pecan Park Elementary School had visions of a wellness program for its students, with one thing at the top of the list -- a walking track. Facing the challenges of budget restraints and limited space, Principal Wanda Quon began applying for grants with several non-profit organizations to help fund the vision she had for her students.

She received financial assistance to build a playground, but still had her sights set on a walking track. She hoped the walking track could serve not only the students, but the community as a whole. And, a group of staff members had already crafted a design and blueprint for the walking track, utilizing the entire block where the school is located.

"When I saw the Let's Go Walkin' Mississippi commercial, I decided to log on to the website and request pedometers," she said. "Then I received a call from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation offering to provide pedometers for each of our students."

And that's how the walking program began at Pecan Park Elementary. Students began walking both outside and inside, but with rugged ground and uneven surfaces it proved challenging at times. Quon began researching costs for installing a walking track and quickly realized it was still out of her reach. Her next step was an application to the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation.

With support from the Foundation, Pecan Park Elementary was able to fund the construction of a walking track. The track was completed in the summer of 2007, and ready for students to begin walking at the beginning of the school year. On October 26, 2007, the school celebrated with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony and visit from First Lady Marsha Barbour.

"I initially had concerns about the children getting bored with walking, but they're still going strong," Quon said. "We're incorporating a learning environment into their walking time, discussing math as it relates to the distance we're walking and the incline of the track, and a variety of other entertaining educational discussions."

Since the walking track opened, the students' endurance has increased significantly -- many who barely made it around the quarter-mile track four times in the beginning are now running and jumping along the track.

"In the long-run, the walking track will also help support community involvement," says Quon. "It has been a large part of our overall focus on health and wellness and has also helped raise our profile within the community. It brings a sense of pride to the children to see their school recognized for the good work its doing."

"We've created a whole wellness package with exercise, nutrition and education, and we're exposing them to healthier choices," Quon said. "This has been an incredible partnership with the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation. It just fits so well."