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Brooks-DeBartolo Students To Get Fit

By LENORA LAKE

llake@tampatrib.com

Published: December 24, 2008

NORTH TAMPA - Students at Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School will soon begin a yearlong health and fitness program with the goal of having some participate in the 2010 Gasparilla Marathon.

The school, at 11602 N. 15th St., will implement a program next month called Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds. It will fight childhood obesity and raise money for student programs and scholarships.

Principal Phildra Swagger outlined the program to the school's board of directors Dec. 16. She wants the school's mindset to be that of the TV show "Biggest Losers."

Swagger said the school's 250 students were screened this month for vision, hearing, height, weight and body mass index.

In January the school will kick off a community and fundraising awareness campaign for the program. It also will begin a year-long walking plan and implement a healthy living program with nutrition classes, cooking demonstrations and motivational speakers.

The program will include Saturday walks, and Swagger plans to ask parents to help identify safe trails. Corporate sponsorships also will be sought.

"It's a fundraiser, but it really is a healthy situation for the school," Swagger said.

In other business:

• Board chairman Tampa Bay Buccaneer Derrick Brooks reported that he is arranging for fellow Buc Warrick Dunn to be the second speaker in the school's Great Speakers program.

The first, featuring retired U.S. Army Gen. Tommy Franks, raised about $30,000 through corporate sponsorships.

• Tom Nagy, director of marketing, reported the school will have several tie-ins with the Feb. 1 Super Bowl in Tampa. One tentative speaker is former player Gale Sayers.

• Discussed plans for the school's first graduation, which will be June 1 at the Marshall Center at the University of South Florida. Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy will speak. The board will seek input from the school's Parent Advisory Council and the graduates concerning other activities.

Correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851.

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