By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Laughs and screams could be heard just down the hallway from the Helena Intermediate School gymnasium on Tuesday, Sept. 26, but this was no regular day of P.E.

Helena Intermediate students were accompanied by their parents as the school was participating in the “Take Your Parents to P.E. Week” beginning Sept. 25.

The week is part of Shape America’s Let’s Move Active Schools that is “a national physical education and physical activity solution to ensure 60 minutes of physical activity is the new norm in K-12 schools,” according to the organization.

HIS Intermediate School physical education teachers Brandon Byars and Reese Portwood, along with HIS teacher aide Jennifer Owen, were in charge of the fitness stations and activities students and parents got to perform together.

“These are cooperative games that uses problem-solving and team building to help everyone try and work as a team,” Byars said. “This just encourages parents to be active with their kids and we’ve had a lot of parents show up. I’ve been a teacher for 10 years and this is the first time we’ve ever done this.”

Approximately 10 fitness station were set up all across the gym as teams worked together for a few minutes at each station before rotating.

Stations like hopping the pond, 4-square, a big checkerboard game and more were on display but one station stood out above others, according to Byars.

“They seem to really like the spider web game,” Byars said. “You try and get through the web without getting caught and once you complete one way you can try and go back through another way.”

Parents Emily Wiley and Brooke Williams participated with their third graders Marshall Wiley and Walker Williams after getting a notification about the event from school.

“It’s just cute to watch the team building activities and strategies,” Emily said.

“It’s nice to come and just see what they’re doing each day in P.E. and just interact with them,” Brooke added.

In addition to promoting an active lifestyle and at least 60 minutes of exercise per day, Byars said they were also encouraging parents to sign up and let their kids participate in the Kids Mercedes-Benz Marathon.