Every year, we report on our achievements, the impact our programs have on our students and looking ahead to the new year. We’re super proud of 2023 and are excited about 2024. Take a look!
Winter Movement Challenge: It’s a Wrap
In the news with The Zebra
Move2Learn’s president and CEO, Brooke Sydnor Curran, and director or programs, Jen Wiser, were recently interviewed for an article that ran in The Zebra. The article was written by the president and CEO of Kids’ First Years and focused on the power of movement as babies and toddlers into school age and beyond.
Brooke said: “We’re proud to say that movement is becoming the norm at ACPS. Also, it’s wonderful to see students and their families learn about movement, so they can do activities together at home.”
Happy 2024!
Video: The magic of movement
Feeling the flow of yoga, the power of Boxercise, the joy of a new pair of running shoes, the rhythm of dance and step clubs—our students reap the benefits of Move2Learn’s Outside the Classroom programs to help them feel and do their best. This Giving Season, help keep these programs and all of our programs going. Donate today.
Move2Learn’s Morning Movers
Here’s a story about how Move2Learn’s Outside the Classroom program works. Lucas, a 4th grader at one of our Alexandria public schools, is an energetic boy who’s excited about school and who loves to run. With that combo in the classroom, though, he’d be bursting at the seams with energy, so much so that he’d bolt up, out and down the hallway to calm his body and mind. The chaos he created for himself and his class was real and had a negative impact on everyone’s learning, especially his.
Then he joined the Move2Learn Morning Movers club at his school, and his days got a whole lot better! That’s the science of movement and the reason for Move2Learn’s Outside the Classroom programs. They’re so important to our students’ social-emotional health and key to their academic growth.
Classroom teachers can vouch for the improvement in behaviors and academics. April Rodgers, a PE teacher with ACPS, heads up the Morning Movers club and is a huge advocate of moving two learn. She recently put together a video for the latest ACPS School Board meeting and talks to the kids and teachers about the benefits of movement in how they feel and learn.. Have a look!
Move2Learn’s Movement Club debuts at Ramsay ES
What goes on “Outside the Classroom”
RUN! GEEK! RUN! presents check to Move2Learn from last month’s race proceeds
The morning was gray and drizzly, but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm and energy at the RUN! GEEK! RUN! Race held last month on behalf Move2Learn. With more than 400 registrants of runners, walkers and rollers, the community sunshine was bright and warm that day.
Hosted by Ironistic, an Alexandria-based, full-service digital agency, RUN! GEEK! RUN! presented a check in the amount of $48,000 to Move2Learn Oct. 19 during a ceremony at George Washington Middle School, with a special performance by the GW Prexie Line Dancers and an appearance from RGR’s mascot, Eugene. The proceeds from the race came from the registration fees of the hundreds of participants!
Photo caption: RUN! GEEK! RUN! / Ironistic team Chris and Rita Foss with RGR Mascot Eugene present check to Brooke Sydnor Curran, president and CEO of Move2Learn.
We’ll put the money raised by the event toward our one-of-a-kind Inside and Outside the Classroom FREE programming that brings movement to Alexandria public school students throughout the day.
“We’re so grateful to RUN! GEEK! RUN! for their belief in the Move2Learn vision to transform learning through movement and their trust in us as this year’s beneficiary,” said Brooke Sydnor Curran, president and CEO of M2L. “We also appreciate all of the amazing race sponsors for helping make this spectacular event happen, with a special shout-out to The LizLuke Team and Rosemont Landscaping and Lawncare, both longtime Move2Learn sponsors as well.” (See full list of sponsors)
Photo caption: Members of the GW Prexie Dancers, pictured here with RGR Mascot Eugene, performed at the RUN! GEEK! RUN! / Move2Learn check presentation Thursday.
Move2Learn Outside the Classroom programs include activities like yoga, running/walking, dance and others. Held before, during or after school, these clubs are offered mainly to those students most in need who’ve been identified as struggling in school They’re led by trusted school staff who make these programs part of a student’s plan for success.
Inside the Classroom programs include our Active Seating Packages—from accordion stools to balance discs to under-desk pedals—that give students the freedom to move about at their desks while doing class work to increase focus to help them stay on task. That’s the science behind movement.
All of our programs are free and teach students how to recognize and manage stress, anxiety and other strong emotions using movement. Understanding that body-mind connection helps them overcome feelings that get in their way of learning.
“Move2Learn embodies RUN! GEEK! RUN!’s mission in building a fit and focused Alexandria community,” said Rita Foss, Ironistic co-founder and race director. “By creating movement opportunities before, during, and after school, Move2Learn primes students’ brains for learning. In 2022 alone, their programming benefitted 10,000+ students and hundreds of educators in Alexandria. A win-win-win for students, educators and the local community.”
Ironistic offers innovative website development and creative marketing services for businesses and organizations of all sizes and industries. From small brochure websites to custom portals, the company’s services include strategy and consulting, website/app design and development, search engine optimization, digital marketing, and website hosting and maintenance.
Ironistic exists to “make a positive IMPACT on our team, our clients, and our community.” Since 2016, hosting the annual RUN! GEEK! RUN! is one of the ways they do that.