O'Loughlin teacher dresses part after students hit goal
By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN
Teachers always are thinking of ways to motivate their students.
Some work, others don't.
The motivational tactic Mark Watts used for his physical education students at O'Loughlin Elementary School this year was a huge success.
Collect $500 as a class in the annual "Jump Rope for Heart" campaign, Watts told the five participating classes earlier this semester, and he would jump rope in a dress during that class period.
There surely were hoots and hollers from the youngsters.
When all quieted down, though, it got even better.
If every single class raised at least $500, he also would dye his hair pink for a day.
So the classes began their campaigns for the American Heart Association in earnest and had a good time jumping rope during the week of Valentine's Day.
But as time went by, Watts' promise slipped their minds.
They turned in their money, and Watts congratulated the students for raising more than $4,000 among the seven classes -- an average of about $575 per each class that participated.
But nothing much was said about their teacher jumping rope in a dress.
"They kind of forgot about it, but I knew when I was going to do it," said Watts, who has taught physical education in Hays elementary schools for 27 years. "But I just kept it quiet for a surprise."
When students showed up at school Tuesday for their annual "Walk-Swim Day" -- when they walk to Hays Aquatic Park and swim on their last day of school -- Watts sprung his surprise.
Vocal music teacher Shelly Westhusin sprayed Watts' hair pink in front of the students, and he proceeded to thrill his classes, and later the entire school, with a jump-roping exhibition -- in a skirt.
"It's hard to jump rope in a dress," Watts said with a laugh.
O'Loughlin's total this year helped the school get oh-so-close to the $60,000 total raised in Watts' 13 years at the elementary school.
"We've done pretty well over the years," he admitted.
Raising money to help raise awareness about heart disease is near and dear to Watts' heart.
His mother, Valerie Watts, died last summer from congestive heart failure. And his dad, Harry Watts, had heart surgery several years ago.
"It's for such a good cause," Mark Watts said of the heart association donation programs, "a good thing to do."
Tuesday was a record-setting day in other ways for O'Loughlin.
Students still needed a few miles to reach their total goal of 30,000 miles in Watts' "Life Breaks" fitness program at the school.
No problem.
O'Loughlin has made it a tradition to walk -- rather than ride on a bus -- to Hays Aquatic Park for its fun-in-the-sun, last-day-of-school celebration.
The mile walk from school to the water park with about 260 students pushed the total past the 30,000 goal, helping O'Loughlin set a school record of 30,254 miles for the year.
"It was a great day," Watts said, hinting he wasn't just talking about his students' accomplishments.
"Yes," he added, "the pink did wash out of my hair."
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