By Anna Skinner
Westfield High School teachers have deemed hump day as “Workout Wednesdays,” stating that if teachers work out during the six minutes between passing periods, they are allowed to wear comfy exercise clothes to class.
English teacher Holly Wheeler, who came up with the idea, said the special education, English and foreign language departments have a higher participation.
“Winters are kind of blah, especially second trimester because it’s the longest trimester broken up by so many breaks and we were thinking we needed something to pep us up,” Wheeler said. “I would preach to the kids that exercise and fitness before the SAT or AP exams gets your brain firing, and I should practice what I preach.”
The teachers have been participating for a few weeks and plan to keep up the workouts until spring break.
Some weeks have themes. One Workout Wednesday was ’80s week, prompting teachers to show up in workout gear like leg warmers.
“When we come back into the classroom, we are a little sweaty, and our heartrate is up, and the energy is up in the class,” Wheeler said. “It’s just better. It’s really bringing us together because people bring up new exercises to do.”
Sometimes the teachers work out on the stairs, allowing them to supervise the students on the stairwells, which Wheeler said is an area that is more difficult to keep an eye on.
The teachers who participated are entered into a raffle to win prizes from local areas around the community. Some of the prizes include a Grand Junction Brewery T-shirt and water bottles.
“Even the tech guys will participate, and the math department works out together, and it builds camaraderie amongst staff,” Wheeler said. “Exercising in small amounts increases memory, so I feel like teachers are more on their A game.”
