• May 7, 2019

    Baker named Kids of STEEL Rookie Site of the Year

    Baker Kids of STEEL Baker Elementary was named the Rookie Site of the Year for the Kids of STEEL program – an honor bestowed on the largest new site to the program. The announcement was made on Saturday, May 4 at the starting line of the Pittsburgh Kids Marathon.

    The Kids of STEEL program is an award-winning, physical activity and nutrition program offered free of charge to any interested classroom, school or youth organization. During training, participants complete the equivalent of 26.2 miles (the distance of a full marathon) of physical activity at school, during a before or after school program, or at home with their families.

    Throughout the 10-week program, students trained after school twice a week under the leadership of School Nurse Holly Fisher and PTA volunteer Melissa DePuy along with many other Baker staff members and parent volunteers.

    “To our surprise we had over 110 students interested in participating,” Mrs. Fisher said. “During our trainings we had various activities planned for the students to learn a new love for running or exercise and to encourage healthy food choices.”

    The culminating activity for the Kids of STEEL program is the one-mile Pittsburgh Kids Marathon, which begins on the North Shore and runs across the Clemente Bridge and finishes at the official finish line downtown.

    “We celebrated the achievements of all the Kids of STEEL sites, coaches and families by bringing everyone together to finish the program at the Pittsburgh Kids Marathon this past Saturday, May 4,” Mrs. Fisher said. “We had over 90 runners from Baker participate in the marathon.”

    According to race officials, more than 6,700 kids from 145 local schools and organizations and their parents participated in the Pittsburgh Kids Marathon.

    “This particular year the kids’ marathon was also named the largest kids marathon in the nation, it was an honor to be part of it,” Mrs. Fisher said. “I am so happy and proud of how well this program unfolded, the kids worked so hard and we have had such amazing feedback from parents. It is such an honor to work for a community like Upper St. Clair who truly values physical wellness.”

    Pittsburgh Steelers T.J. Watt and Mason Rudolph, as well as several mascots including the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Iceburgh, Pirates’ pierogies and Chick-fil-A cows were on hand to motivate the kids at the start line.