Students and staff at Bremen High School came together on Wednesday, March 11, for a schoolwide walking challenge during Mindful Moments Week, collectively logging enough miles to walk the length of Illinois—and back.
Physical education classes spent their class periods walking in the fieldhouse, while more than 40 staff members joined during lunch breaks and free periods. By the end of the day, the school community had walked 829.5 miles, the equivalent of traveling from Rockford to Cairo and back again.
“Our group of teachers was tasked with creating a wellness and mindfulness week for students and staff,” said teacher Jonathan Baikie. “The PE staff expanded the idea by having all classes walk during their class periods, and some teachers incorporated heart rate monitors to track active heart rates. From there it snowballed into trying to walk the length of Illinois.”
Nearly all students walked more than a mile, creating a positive and energetic atmosphere throughout the school.
“As part of our Mindful Moments Week, students and staff came together for a schoolwide walking challenge,” said Dean Michele Jurgens. “In addition to the impressive mileage, it created an incredibly positive atmosphere and a strong sense of community.”
Organizers credited the Bremen High School Physical Education Department for making the event a success. Following the enthusiastic response, staff are already exploring ways to expand the challenge in the future—including the possibility of walking across the United States as a school community.