By CHERYL HEMMER
For the Republic-Times

More than 150 students at Rogers and Gardner elementary schools in Waterloo are attempting to outwit, outplay, outlast and, ultimately, outjump each other to become the sole survivor at this year’s American Heart Association Jump Rope for Heart celebration assembly.

Waterloo schools are recognized annually as one of the leading fundraisers for Jump Rope for Heart in the St. Louis area. However, just as legendary to the students and faculty at the schools is the assembly held each year to celebrate the money raised for the AHA.

Themes of past assemblies include gladiators, rodeos, sumo wrestling and oversized tricycle races. The theme for this year’s assembly is “Survivor,” fashioned after the CBS reality show of the same name.

While some of the details of the assembly are being kept secret by the show’s “producer,” it has been revealed that there will be reward and immunity challenges, torches with flames, an urn – of sorts – to hold the votes, and an immunity idol designed with red plastic hearts.

Students who have raised at least $100 for the AHA have earned the opportunity to participate in Jump Rope for Heart.  In recent weeks, they have been competing against each other in physical education classes to find the surviving jumper for each class. Those survivors will participate in a jump-off at the assembly, which takes place this Friday at Gardner Elementary.

Each of the more than 150 students will also receive a prize for their participation.

The two-hour assembly will not only have a jump-off between the remaining students, but teachers and principals will be involved in a jump-off as well. The events will be hosted by the schools’ own “Jeff Probst,” also known as Josh Hogan, who teaches P.E. at both Rogers and Gardner and also serves as junior high school track coach.

Hogan has been involved with Jump Rope for Heart since its beginning 12 years ago.  The same year Hogan lost his grandfather to heart disease, an AHA representative from St. Louis asked him if he would be willing to organize a program at Rogers. A couple of years later, Hogan also lost his uncle to a heart attack.

“These events made me realize how important it is to emphasize to the children that the heart muscle is the most important muscle in their body,” Hogan said. “If it doesn’t run, the body doesn’t run. I also realized the magnitude of the heart association and what they do and bring to everyone.”

Initially, only Rogers was involved in Jump Rope for Heart. Five years ago, Hogan also brought the program to Gardner Elementary. Zahnow Elementary P.E. teacher Karla Bivins now has some kindergarten and first grade students who participate, and WJHS P.E. teachers have joined the cause the past couple of years.

When asked what amount of money the district hoped to raise this year, Hogan said the goal is always to raise more money and have more participants than the year before. That goal has been met almost every year.

When Hogan started Jump Rope for Heart at Rogers 12 years ago, students raised $7,463. Last year, Rogers and Gardner raised more than $39,000 toward a district-wide total of $61,700, making the Waterloo school district one of the top Jump Rope for Heart fundraisers in the St. Louis area.

Hogan anticipates raising even more money this year.

“We want to stress how much we appreciate the generosity of the many donors that contribute to this cause and allow the kids the opportunity to do something for their community,” said Hogan.

According to the AHA, Jump Rope for Heart helps children learn the value of community service and become empowered to contribute to their community’s welfare and helps children join together in helping other kids with special hearts.  It also helps students learn to develop heart-healthy habits while being physically active.

Hogan said the annual assembly has become the best day of the school year for many students.

“It allows the kids to have fun at school and see their teachers and administrators let down their guard and act silly and goofy,” Hogan said.

“The principals and administrators are vital to the success of the assembly. They allow us the funds to do these events and their participation helps make the assembly what it is. It started out years ago as just another assembly. But now it has become a show.

“It’s ultimately not about Survivor or rodeos or wrestling,” Hogan concluded. “It’s about raising money for the great organization that is the American Heart Association.  It’s about getting kids to understand the importance of a healthy heart and the importance of regular physical activity. And it’s about having a good time while doing that.”