Sabrina Fields, a Balmer School student in Northbridge, raises money for the American Heart Association by jumping rope.
Photo credit: Deborah Gauthier

NORTHBRIDGE, Mass. – Last year, Balmer School students raised $10,000 for the American Association by jumping rope. This year, ropes in hand and hearts pumping, their plan is to raise even more.

The children have been jumping rope in every physical education class this week, friends and family pledging a donation to the Heart Association for their efforts.

“It’s not an easy skill,’’ warned physical education teacher Joanne Briand to a group of students. “Some of you are beginners; some of you at the more advanced level.’’

The level doesn’t matter, she said. What matters is to keep trying.

“It’s a pattern,’’ physical education teacher Jess Lachapelle said, “spin first, jump second.’’

Posters on the wall of the gymnasium show the various patterns for jumping rope, and the more advanced students demonstrated some of them – jumping rope backwards, side to side, running, skipping.

The lesson in jump roping also provided a lesson in perseverance. “You don’t quit when something seems pretty hard,’’ Briand said. “ I can see the color in your faces how had you’ve been working.’’