Students at Decas Elementary School collected donations for the American Heart Association during the month of February, and on Saturday morning, Feb. 29, they jumped, skipped, and danced their hearts out to celebrate their hard work.  

Physical education teacher Deanna Semple said that the Decas School has been participating in Jump Rope for Heart for over twenty years. The program helps raise money for things like medical research, and housing for families who are visiting relatives in the hospital. 

Semple said that in addition to helping the Heart Association, students learn basic jump rope skills and healthy eating habits. “It goes hand in hand with our values,” Semple said of Jump Rope for Heart.

On Saturday morning, students jumped rope and danced to the tune of music played by their teacher’s son DJ Semple. They were also treated to snacks provided by Dunkin’ Donuts. 

Erica Hall brought her daughters Dakoda and Jordyn to the celebration. She said that she participated in the program when she was a kid, and was happy to see that it still lives on today. 

Renee Fernandes, a paraprofessional at Wareham High School, and Marie Jacinto, a first grade teacher at Decas School volunteered to help Semple run the celebration. 

Fernandes said that the Jump Rope for Heart drive and celebration are good for the kids because “it brings them close as a community.” 

Jacinto said that she loves to see her students come together for a good cause, and that at the end of the celebration “they all had a great time.” 

To learn more about Jump Rope for Heart, go to: https://www2.heart.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=khc_resources_search.