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Move2Learn Turns 15–slideshow

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Move2Learn Turns 15–slideshow

It’s hard to believe it has been 15 years that we’ve had the honor of serving our community to transform the way our students learn, to reach their highest potential. Since 2009, we’ve been using movement to inspire tens of thousands of Alexandria public school students. Our awesome students are a diverse group with wide socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

Today, Move2Learn is focused on three main buckets: Inside the Classroom and Outside the Classroom to create a healthy space for learning as well as a sense of belonging; and our Social, Emotional and Academing Learning lessons to help students help themselves so they understand the emotions that get in their way of learning and then how to use movement to overcome.

We celebrated our Mile Marker 15 anniversary celebration October 5th, 2024, with friends and supporters, new and old, of Move2Learn. Everyone had a blast. Enjoy the slideshow below from the party! (Photo credit: Shaughn Cooper) Then take a watch of our MM15 video featuring M2L Brooke Sydnor Curran and our students!

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Brooke, 4th from right, with her Move2Learn Mile Marker 15 staff and volunteers!
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One of our guests of honor and Move2Learn supporter since the beginning, Elizabeth Lucchesi of The LizLuke Team.
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Move2Learn board member, Nicole McGrew, left, with Heather Peeler, Act For Alexandria president and CEO, our second guest of honor for being there with M2L since the beginning. To the right of Heather in the background is none other than Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson.
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The scene from the top of the stairs.
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Our awesome DJ kept the dancing going.
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Brooke is pictured here with Dr. Michelle Rief, chair of the ACPS school board.
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Raven Greene, 2nd from left, addressed the crowd with remarks about her experience as a M2L movement mentor and M2L yoga club. That's her mom to her left, along with Sara VanderGoot, co-owner of Mind the Mat Pilates and Yoga studios, and her son.
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Front: Emily Porterfield, ACPS teacher and M2L movement mentor, and her husband, M2L board member, Mike Porterfield. On the left are longtime friends and supporters of M2L, Julie Carey and Mike Tackett. In between Emily and Mike is Melissa Riddy from Inova.
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Longtime Move2Learn supporters, David and Diann Frantz, took their seats front and center on two of our classroom accordion stools, one of the most popular pieces of our Active Seating Packages.
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Pictured here L to R: Elizabeth Bennett Parker, Virginia state delegate; Suzie Russell, M2L volunteer; Dr. Michelle Rief, ACPS School Board chair; Ashley Simpson Baird, ACPS school board member; Dr. Grace Taylor, chief of staff, ACPS; Dave Keen, CFO, American Physical Therapy Association; Christine Freidburg, director, Griswold Home Care
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Brooke poses with Gene Steuerle, founder of ACT for Alexandria.
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Mayor Justin Wilson, middle, watching the bidding with Mary Miller, M2L volunteer, left, and Marc Miller, M2L board member, right.
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Brooke shares the "stage" with Shawn McLaughlin, longtime M2L supporter in his auctioneer role to bid off fabulous items for our cause.
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Our friend, Tommy White, bids on an awesome auction package.
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Closing out the party with a last dance of the evening is Heidi Vatanka, left, and Kesha Stephenson-Frazier, right, of Parker Gray Pediatric Dental Care.

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is now

Brooke Sydnor Curran, president and CEO of Move2Learn and the former “runner” of RunningBrooke, shares the story behind our new name and look.

Hecho de la diversión

Tararea tres notas de la mayoría de las canciones de rock/pop en la radio entre 1965 y 1983 y ¡lo nombraré!

Brooke Sydnor Curran

Presidenta y CEO

Empecé a correr cuando era padre de tres niños pequeños para pasar un tiempo a solas. Todavía corro porque es una buena carrera y es una excelente manera de comenzar mi día: pienso mucho durante esas primeras horas de la mañana. Cuando termino, me siento concentrado y listo para enfrentar el mundo.

Hoy en día, la ciencia respalda la evidencia de que correr y el ejercicio en general mejoran no solo la salud emocional, sino también el flujo de sangre al cerebro, lo que facilita concentrarse en la tarea y aprender mejor. Esto es especialmente cierto para los niños en edad escolar, que pasan gran parte de su tiempo en las aulas y se espera que presten atención y hagan su trabajo.

Sin una salida para dirigir positivamente la energía y aumentar el flujo sanguíneo para apoyar la función cerebral, la concentración se resiente, lo que puede ser desastroso para muchos niños.

Mis años de primaria y secundaria

Sé lo que es ser el estudiante que no puede quedarse quieto, tiene dificultades para concentrarse y escuchar al maestro. Ese era yo de niño. Siempre me llamaban por interrumpir el salón de clases. No fue hasta que fui adulto que entendí la relación positiva entre el movimiento y el aprendizaje.

Miro hacia atrás a esos años y los efectos persistentes con empatía por esa niña, pero sé que no estaba, y no está, sola.