Field students hear from former Bears tight end Kaseem Sinceno
Healthy eating, physical activity, and proper hydration were the name of the game at Field Elementary as the Chicago Bears helped teach a lesson to third through fifth graders as a part of Healthy Living Month and Every Kid Healthy Week across District 64. Students participated in non-contact football drills the morning of April 25 and received a pep talk from a former Bear.
Field P.E. Teacher Kerry Santefort did this event at her previous school to celebrate Every Kid Healthy Week through Action for Healthy Kids. After receiving Field Principal Dr. Courtney Goodman’s blessing, Santefort reached out to the Bears, who had mutual interest in coming to Field.
Kaseem Sinceno played tight end for the Bears from 2000-2001 and helped run some of the drills that the students participated in. He also spoke to the students about the hard work required to make it to the NFL and emphasized the importance of treating your bodies right regardless of if you’re a football player or not.
"In order to achieve what you want in life, it is important to work hard and not give up,” Sinceno told the students, “to work hard it is important to fuel our bodies with the proper nutrition so that our bodies get the proper fuel it needs to perform at its maximum potential. Just like a car needs proper fuel to run efficiently, the body needs proper nutrition to function properly."
During the visit students were able to participate in football drills similar to what the Chicago Bears players do, all in an effort to promote physical fitness and healthy living.
“Students loved the event,” Santefort said, “They enjoyed engaging with Kaseem Sinceno, who was incredibly gracious, encouraging, and engaging. They also really enjoyed the stations in which they could tackle, throw, work on agility, running and diving while catching on the mats.”
Students weren’t the only ones that participated though as some of Field’s P.E. Teachers and classroom instructors took part, as did District 64 Superintendent Dr. Eric Olson.
“It was a tremendous experience for the kids to get to be up close with a former Chicago Bear but even better was them getting something valuable out of it” Olson said, “It was great to see so many smiles and so much fun being had while the students were being active.”
The Mini Monsters Clinic is a free youth program that stresses the importance of healthy eating, physical activity and proper hydration through fun, non-contact football drills. All participating students also received a free t-shirt to wear for the event that wouldn’t have been possible if not for the help of many.
“Thank you so much to all of our volunteers!” added Stantefort, “We could not have done this without you and also a huge thank you to the Field staff for their flexibility.”
A flexibility that allowed students a day they won’t soon forget.
See highlights from the memorable day below!