A team of 31 grade six students from Jells Park Primary School have been training since the start of the year in preparation for this year’s RACV Energy Breakthrough.
This will be the sixth year that Jells Park Primary School has entered the event and their 2012 team is largest yet. The team has been training before school and after school, with training sessions have been run by parent and personal trainer, Mel Cheney.
Mel has introduced the team to new ways of improving their fitness and strength, working through physical training such as push ups, sit ups, squats, lunges, sprints, endurance runs, boxing and circuits.
“I have been working with the team of students with the aim of improving their general athletic performance and specifically targeting area of strength, speed, agility, endurance and flexibility. All of these elements are essential in helping them achieve their long-term goals for racing in November,” said Mel.
~ Mel Cheney, Jells Park Primary parent and personal trainer[/quote]
The school’s RACV Energy Breakthrough Coordinator, Scott Zachariassen, said the school was very fortunate to have Mrs Cheney on board:
“The dedication and time given by parents and the wider community of Jells Park Primary School are paramount in the team not only competing, but in producing great results. Mel has put lots of careful planning into every session to help the students develop as individuals and as part of a team,” Scott said.
“The training sessions have not only developed the students knowledge and enthusiasm towards exercise but have also led to an increase in teamwork and encouragement of each other’s achievements.”
Jells Park Primary School is fortunate to have parent involvement on many levels, not only with the fitness training, but also from help with pushcart construction to uniform designs.
Holden Planning Manager, Mike Jacobs, is on hand again as a ‘Holden Mentor’ this year to help students improve their fitness ahead of the big race.
“The support and enthusiasm from the school has grown this year, with more involvement from the students and the school community” said Mr Jacobs.
~ Mike Jacobs, Holden Mentor[/quote]
The Jells Park team will join more than 3000 students from 150 primary and secondary schools participating in this event to demonstrate how they have used environmentally-friendly technology to power vehicles of different shapes and sizes.
