May 24, 2011

Each of the nearly 300 students at Glendaal Elementary School received free basketballs this week thanks to the generosity of the U.S. Marine Corps-Fox Company based at the Stratton Air Base in Glenville.

The basketballs, described in a letter from Principal Thomas Eagan as "gently used," ties in with the school's year-long efforts with the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, an in-school nutrition and physical activity program in which students are encouraged to exercise at least 60 minutes per day.

"This is an opportunity for our students to bring a ball home and get outside with their families and friends to toss it around a bit," said Eagan. "We are trying to encourage healthy, active lifestyles. This donation by the Fox Company allows us to once again encourage that lifestyle with our students."

This week, students in kindergarten and first grade received basketballs on Monday; today, students in grades 2 and 3 got the balls; and students in grades 4 and 5 will receive them on Wednesday. The balls are disbursed in the cafeteria right before dismissal.

Students in Trish Roeser's class counted and bagged the basketballs to make them easier to distribute.

Here are some photos from today's basketball distribution to students in grades 2 and 3: