Millwood School Delivers on Promise to Develop the Body and Mind
Millwood offers students and staff a variety of physical fitness programs, and has earned Active RVA certification for its commitment to health and wellness.
By: Nan Turner
When Dr. Louise Bagwell-Robinson founded Millwood School 24 years ago she had a vision for her students and the type of life skills they’d be taught during their time at the Midlothian-based school.
“The mission of our school is to challenge the intellect, develop the body, and foster moral values,” said Bagwell-Robinson, the Head of School at Millwood. “We should hold everyone to that, including staff.”
It’s the promise of “developing the body” and the commitment to promoting physical activity for students and staff that has earned Millwood Active RVA certification from the Active RVA Community Awards program, a new initiative started by the Sports Backers. The program seeks to recognize the region’s exceptional employers and schools that are implementing innovative programs to promote physical activity, as these groups serve as role models in the community. All Active RVA certified organizations will be honored at a luncheon ceremony in February 2013, and there are other benefits as well – such as recognition through various Active RVA social media outlets, and access to wellness program best practices.
At the school, 90 percent of students participate in a sport or active after-school program.
“The driving force behind our school sports is our philosophy, which is that any child who wants to join a team can join a team, and any child that wants to play will get to play in every game,” Bagwell-Robinson said. “If that means we need two soccer teams, we’ll make two soccer teams. We believe kids participate in sports for two reasons, they want to wear the uniform and they want to play, not watch. Some kids are more innately athletic than others; we’re doing everything we can to get all kids to play.”
Millwood Field Hockey
The same is true for the faculty and staff.
Millwood employees can work out in the cardio room that is equipped with treadmills, an elliptical, and exercise bikes. There are free weights available, as well as bikes to ride out on the trails surrounding the school in its Woodlake neighborhood. Staff members are encouraged to walk on the trails, and run on the track or cross country trail.
“We encourage them to use these things before, after, or during the day,” Bagwell-Robinson said. “They have liberal leave to go.”
School-wide physical activity challenges are another way the Millwood faculty stays active. In the competitions, the staff is divided up into two teams, given a fitness goal, and then the winners are rewarded. Bagwell-Robinson is treating the team that won the most recent challenge to an evening at the new local bowling and entertainment center, Uptown Alley.
“These challenges provide camaraderie, they’re physical and fun,” Bagwell-Robinson said. “Anytime someone does something, we publically acknowledge it. The results are great, people miss fewer days, they’re happier, more energetic, and morale goes up.”
Fitness was always a priority, even in the early days of Millwood. Before the school had any sports facilities, Bagwell-Robinson initiated, and coached, a Millwood Roadrunner team whose goal was to train students for the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k.
“Every February we come back and for the next six weeks students train and every weekend they have a race,” Bagwell-Robinson said. “We start with a 5k and then work our way up to five milers.”
Millwood runners in action
Around 50 students, fourth grade and up, participate on the Roadrunners team. Bagwell-Robinson tries to help students set up little benchmarks as they work on their training, the first of which is to run 30 minutes without stopping. Participants are divided up into smaller groups based on pace so everyone feels comfortable while training. The vast majority of them end up running the 10k in the spring.
On race day all Millwood students wear similar uniforms so they can look out for, and cheer for, one another.
“Whenever we go to a race I make sure they know to say thank you to every single volunteer, and encourage their teammates,” Bagwell-Robinson said. “They’re taught all the etiquette of running. They’re always complimented.”
For the past five years, Millwood has also placed in the Sports Backers’ 10k Healthy School Challenge, a contest within the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k that awards the schools with the highest percentage of student participants.
Bagwell-Robinson is a very accomplished runner herself, completing 18 marathons and several triathlons. Part of the reason she loves the sport is because of the simplicity it offers.
“It’s a sport most people can do,” Bagwell-Robinson said. “All day long I see kids in the hall and I say, ‘Don’t run!’ Then after school I’m saying, ‘Run, run!’ Many of our runners go on to run in high school. It’s hard and then they learn how it is and they set goals for themselves.”
Within the school, Millwood makes sure younger students are constantly staying active, especially at recess. Equipment and activities provided for students includes tricycles, scooters, kickball, soccer, and tetherball.
“Our ultimate goal is that exercise becomes a habit,” Bagwell-Robinson said. “That it’s not optional, that they understand it is as important as brushing your teeth every night.”
In physical education classes students go through fitness tests at the beginning of the school year. Teachers then look at what the kids need individual work on, and tailor their instruction to those needs so they can perform better on their fitness tests that are held at the end of the year.
Bagwell-Robinson has seen the direct results of Millwood’s programs and encourages other schools to implement similar initiatives.
“We want to offer an opportunity for all kids, not just some, and we want it to be fun. We want the same thing for our employees, that it’s a part of what we do every day. We want to be encouraging healthy habits for a lifetime,” Bagwell-Robinson said. “Healthy body, healthy mind; the most physically active also have the highest academic achievements, there is a direct correlation. We have a responsibility to know that and do something about it.”
Is your school or company interested in becoming Active RVA certified? Click here to learn more about the program and complete the survey.