Texas Rangers, Mansfield ISD team up for health

As kids are spending more and more time looking at screens and staying indoors, a new Mansfield ISD partnership is hoping to get children moving.

The Health and Fitness All-Stars Program, sponsored by the Texas Rangers and Medical City Healthcare, offers a series of instructional videos designed to supplement the fifth-grade physical education curriculum and motivate kids to maintain a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle.

The program recently rolled out for the after-school care programs at all Mansfield ISD intermediate schools. With the instructional material provided, the after-school instructors will incorporate different activities emphasizing fitness, healthy eating, hygiene and mental wellness.

“We wanted to provide educational and relevant materials to kids,” said Ray Casas, director of community impact for the Texas Rangers Baseball Club. “This is the first time we’ve been able to do this in Mansfield ISD, and we’re hoping this continues to grow.”

To help launch the program, a health rally was held at Della Icenhower Intermediate School on March 2. The students were surprised with a special appearance from Captain, the mascot for the Texas Rangers.

“We really wanted to excite our students and give them a preview of the curriculum they will be participating in,” said Tina Cantu, director of MISD’s out-of-school time programs. “Our district does a great job on the importance of healthy lifestyles and making sure that our students understand how creating these lifestyles now will definitely carry over to when they’re adults.”

Latoya Beale, an ACE after-school activity instructor for Mansfield ISD, said that the program is a benefit to families as well. She explained that it allows students to understand the “why” behind each fitness activity.

“A lot of times, they don’t get [fitness lessons and activities] at home, so we want them to get it at school,” she added. “We tell them the importance of the activity—like warding off diseases, like diabetes and heart disease.”

To reward the participants, a boy and a girl from each campus who exemplifies a commitment to fitness and wellness will be selected at the end of the school year to receive some prizes for their efforts. The prizes range from a Rangers t-shirt and hat to tickets to a Texas Rangers home game.

For more information about the Health and Fitness All-Stars Program, visit texasrangers.com/fitness.

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