Connecting with Colorado Communities: Bus Tour Day Four

Students at Lowry Elementary in Denver waved goodbye to the "Education Drives America" bus. Official Department of Education photo by Joshua Hoover.

Denver: Getting fit and staying healthy

It may have been a once-in-lifetime occurrence: two cabinet secretaries, one governor, two U.S. senators and dozens of students all line-dancing. Historic or not, the importance of the Let’s Move! back-to-school bus tour event at Lowry Elementary in Denver, was clear: Children who are healthy and active are better prepared to learn.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan joined Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, Lt. Governor Joseph Garcia, Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet and Colorado Commissioner of Education Robert Hammond.

Lowry is part of the Denver Public Schools’ Garden to Cafeteria program, which allows students to grow fruits and vegetables at school and then provide some of their harvest to the school cafeteria for school lunches. The visiting dignitaries ate lunch with students in the cafeteria, toured the schools’ gardens and then worked up a sweat by shooting hoops with students and doing the line dance known as the “Cupid Shuffle.”

Children that are healthy and active are prepared to learn. They can’t learn to read if they’re hungry. – @arneduncan on #edtour12

— US Dept of Education (@usedgov) September 17, 2012

Secretary Duncan talks with 1st graders at Limon Public School. Department of Education photo by Joshua Hoover.

Limon: Celebrating Constitution Day

The back-to-school bus’s next stop, Limon, Colo.—population around 1,800—doesn’t get visited by cabinet secretaries often. And that’s a shame, because the eastern Colorado community’s dedication to its school shouldn’t go unnoticed. After a spirited welcome by the Limon Public School band, Secretary Duncan and staff took part in a Constitution Day assembly. (Constitution Day, Sept. 17, is being commemorated in schools all this week. Here are some teaching and learning resources about the Constitution.)

Lt. Governor Garcia, a former college president, traveled on the bus from Denver and explained the importance of understanding our rights under the Constitution. “We need you to become civically engaged,” he told the students.

Limon student body president Toby Kropp introduced Arne and noted that Limon is special because “in the classroom we have demonstrated great excellence.” Kropp boasted Limon’s impressive record in athletics, as well, and challenged the Secretary to a one-on-one basketball game with any member of the Limon basketball team.

During his remarks, Arne said that Constitution Day is a time to reflect about our basic rights as Americans, rights that in some countries “simply don’t exist.”

We were impressed by the community’s support for Limon Public School, which spans kindergarten through 12th grade. Arne praised the community’s dedication by noting that “when an entire community rallies around its school, nothing but good can happen.”

Watch the video highlights from day four:

Click here for an alternate version of the video with an accessible player.

On Tuesday, the Education Drives America bus heads to Topeka and Emporia, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo. Follow the tour on Twitter with the hashtag #edtour12.

Cameron Brenchley is director of digital engagement and is blogging and tweeting his way from coast to coast during ED’s annual back-to-school bus tour.

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