Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 23, 1995                   TAG: 9503230067
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-9   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RINER                                LENGTH: Medium

WATCH OUT FOR THE RINER KIDS: THEY'RE REALLY IN SHAPE

Ask the kids what makes them excited about it and they'll talk about the Caterpillar Crawl, Terminator Tag or step aerobics.

The names of the games may sound funny, but they're showing results. In four years the Riner children's performances on their spring physical fitness tests have catapulted. Time was, only 16 percent of the children passed the test; now, nearly 60 percent are passing. The improvement earned them a state award as a physical education demonstration center.

Del Moser, a health and physical education specialist from the Virginia State Department of Education visited Riner Elementary School on Monday to bestow the honor on the school. Riner will be a demonstration center for three years, offering opportunities for other schools to visit and learn about the physical education program. Two years ago, Moser gave the same honor to Giles County's Eastern Elementary School.

This is the first time a Montgomery County school has won the award.

Four years ago, when Principal Keith Rowland and Miller were newcomers to Riner, it didn't take them long to spot the problem.

"Mr. Rowland was determined to look at all areas where we were truly failing and [physical education] was one of them," Miller said.

Rowland enlisted the help of the Parent Teacher Association, which made it a five-year goal to obtain new playground equipment for the children.

"It's a quality playground for our students that's fitness-oriented, not just swings and slides," Rowland said.

After Rowland and Miller's first year, the children had climbed from the 16th percentile to the 33rd percentile. The following year they moved up to 47 percent. Now at 56 percent, the children are still going strong.

"It can happen if you challenge them appropriately," Miller said. "I try to teach them that any step up is an important step, as long as they're doing their personal best."

Eight-year-old Chrissy Miller passed her hand over her forehead and exhaled loudly, giving a demonstration of how she feels when she leaves Miller's class.

"We're always tired and sweaty when we're done," she said, laughing. "And we go straight to the water fountain."

Miller said she tries to keep the classes interesting, too.

"My objective is to make them happy and make them fit. When they leave my class they're always happy AND tired."

Miller started "I beat Mrs. Miller's Mile," a list posted in the multipurpose room of children who can run a mile faster than Miller's 11:20 time. About 25 children are already on the list, some of them even running a seven-minute mile.

The younger children are interested in the "Golden Tennis Show" award, given to children who behave in class. When children get the awards, they mark them on a big poster board. The child with the most points at the end of the school years gets an ice cream party.

"They really like the climbing activities," Rowland said. "We've got a climbing pole outside and anyone who climbs the pole and rings the bell gets a certificate."

But the children are the real authorities.

"In step aerobics we get to step up and clap under our legs then clap above our legs," said 8-year-old Sarah Biltz.

"Some of us like jump rope and basketball," said Josh Wolf, 9. "Tag's fun too, especially Hot Potato Tag."

"In Caterpillar Crawl, it's like we get down on our bellies and crawl around and when [Miller] claps once we ball up into cocoons," said PamelaO Burcham, 9. "And when she claps twice we turn into butterflies."