Andrew Halberg, a 10-year-old fifth-grade student at Roosevelt Elementary School, checks out his new Sqord, a device similar to Fitbit, during a kick-off event Monday. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)

Andrew Halberg, a 10-year-old fifth-grade student at Roosevelt Elementary School, checks out his new Sqord, a device similar to Fitbit, during a kick-off event Monday. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)

Port Angeles fifth-graders using new technology in physical activity program

Sqords, activity tracking devices similar to a Fitbit, went to each of the 350 students who opted into the voluntary program.

PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles fifth-graders on Monday got their hands on new technology designed to get them off the couch and to track their physical activity.

The district handed out Sqords, activity tracking devices similar to a Fitbit, to each of the approximately 350 fifth-grade students in the district who opted into the voluntary program.

Through physical activity, students will gain points that can be used in the Sqord app and as bragging rights.

“Any time you can get kids excited about doing something that’s going to help them with their health, it’s going to make them better kids in the classroom and better people in the community,” said Chuck Lisk, the district’s assistant superintendent.

“If at fifth grade we can get them thinking about being active and moving and not sitting on the couch, it’s going to be a complete positive.”

During the kick-off event Monday at Roosevelt Elementary School, students from each of the district’s five elementary schools were giddy with excitement to try out their new devices.

Sqord Co-Founder Coleman Greene led the youngsters in short exercises to get them started on Sqord. They ran in place, did jumping jacks and some did pushups.

During the event, Lisk offered a challenge to all the fifth-grade students.

If 100 percent of the fifth-graders at their school returned today registered for the Sqord app, Lisk would personally make sure their class got two extra recesses — another opportunity to earn points with Sqord.

“These kids are going to do it to earn points, have some competition or just challenge themselves,” Lisk said.

Greene said Sqord doesn’t just track steps; it also tracks intensity and duration of exercises.

The devices are waterproof and come with nine-month batteries, allowing the students to take them pretty much anywhere without worry, he said.

PE teachers were given iPads that the students’ Sqords will sync to, allowing the school to track their activity.

The school district partnered with Olympic Medical Center to provide the devices.

OMC’s goal is to distribute the devices to each of the fifth-grade students in the hospital’s district, which includes Port Angeles, Crescent and Sequim schools.

OMC paid for the Sqords and iPads to further its goal of promoting wellness in the community, said Eric Lewis, the hospital’s CEO.

Crescent School District should have the devices in the coming month and Sequim School District might see them as early as January, Lewis said.

“Sometimes technology can make you less active,” he said. “Using this technology — which the kids are really interested in — can help them develop healthy lifestyles and be more active.”

Lewis, who uses a Fitbit, knows first-hand how the devices will help students become more active, saying they make users very aware of their activity.

“If a student has a day where they are just playing video games and are not very active, it will show up and they won’t get very many points,” he said. “It creates awareness and creates lifestyle.”

Sqord’s website boasts that the devices have increased activity among inactive children by 55 percent.

An increase in activity is exactly what the district is looking for, Lisk said, pointing to research that shows students who are active tend to be more focused in the classroom.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2008 found that physical activity levels drop 76 percent between ages 9 and 15.

In 2014, 31 percent of Clallam County eighth-graders were obese or overweight, according to the Healthy Youth Survey.

Sqord, based in Seattle, has provided more than 100,000 of the devices to schools across the country. OMC plans to continue the program each year, Lewis said.

________

Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.

Jon Nadiranto, of Sqord, helps fifth-grade students in Port Angeles with their new Sqord devices on Monday. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)

Jon Nadiranto, of Sqord, helps fifth-grade students in Port Angeles with their new Sqord devices on Monday. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)

The more than 350 fifth-grade students in Port Angeles School District were given Sqord devices, similar to Fitbit, to help track and encourage physical activity. (Jesse Major / Peninsula Daily News)

The more than 350 fifth-grade students in Port Angeles School District were given Sqord devices, similar to Fitbit, to help track and encourage physical activity. (Jesse Major / Peninsula Daily News)

More in News

The ferry MV Coho backs into its landing after returning to Port Angeles on Tuesday following annual dry dock and maintenance in Anacortes. During the maintenance period, extensive work was performed on the dock, including replacement of a wing wall used to steer and secure the vessel during loading and unloading of cars and passengers. The ferry is scheduled to resume daily service between Port Angeles and Victoria on Thursday. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Coho returns

The ferry MV Coho backs into its landing after returning to Port… Continue reading

Building association calls for city to cease utility charges

Association says charges unconstitutional

Jefferson Land Trust considering conservation burial ground

Funds from plot sales could fund habitat improvements

Port Angeles artist Bob Stokes sits in his studio and music venue on Wednesday. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Art community mourns Bob Stokes’ passing

Legacy includes statues, concerts, gatherings

Clallam PUD
Cindy Kimble, Clallam PUD’s customer and community outreach programs coordinator, can help residents navigate the utility district’s revamped low-income energy assistance program.
Clallam PUD hires staff to help low-income customers

Clallam County Public Utility District has overhauled its low-income energy… Continue reading

Jen Colmore, left, and June Nichols of the Sequim Food Bank serve a sample of chili to Monica Dixon of Sequim during Saturday’s Community Chili Cookoff at the Sequim Boys & Girls Club. The event, organized by the club and Boy Scout Troop 90, showcased the culinary skills of six community organizations with each group receiving a share of the proceeds and the winner taking a $500 prize. The food bank’s chili recipe took top honors in the competition. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Chili cookoff

Jen Colmore, left, and June Nichols of the Sequim Food Bank serve… Continue reading

Port Townsend to test sewer system with smoke, dye

The city of Port Townsend will test its sewer… Continue reading

JUMP! Playground to close for renovations

Jefferson County Parks and Recreation will close the JUMP! Playground… Continue reading

Barcy Fisher, left, and Patti Buckland have been selected as the 2024 Marrowstone Island Citizens of the Year.
Fisher, Buckland honored as Marrowstone Island citizens of year

Barcy Fisher and Patty Buckland were named Marrowstone Island’s 2024… Continue reading

About 800 people from Jefferson and Clallam counties spill out from the steps of the Jefferson County Courthouse onto Jefferson Street in Port Townsend on Monday to take part in a National Day of Protest organized by the 50501 Movement, which stands for “50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement.” (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Hundreds protest actions of Trump administration

Activists cite USAID, worry about Treasury, impacts of immigration

Peninsula to welcome Canadian visitors

Celebration of Coho passengers planned

Fish barrier removal to impact highway traffic

Portions of roadway to have long-term closures