Washougal students learn about heart health during challenge

Washougal — Students at Gause Elementary School in Washougal participated in the Kid’s Heart Challenge and raised $7,992.29 for the American Heart Association. The five-week challenge asked students to avoid sugary drinks, do at least one good deed and exercise for 60 minutes every day. Mark Bauer, physical education teacher at Gause, said focusing on doing things for others is another way to keep one’s heart healthy. The class that raised the most in donations were allowed to spray Bauer with silly string, an honor that went to Lisa Haskins’ second-grade class. The top grade-level fundraisers were Jack Jones, Ella Weaver, Kamea Roy, Addison Curtis, Rachel Foote and Liam Young. “I used the five weeks to not only stress the important of exercise, but also focused on nutrition,” Bauer said in a release from the district. “During class my students also learned how diet can change the body’s composition and how food is energy for the body and we need to make healthy choices so that our body has the energy it needs to grow, work and play.”