HELL’S KITCHEN — A local elementary school that had its first gym teacher this year is fighting to keep her.
Last year, a parent at the P.S. 51 Elias Howe School donated most of the money the school needed to hire part-time Physical Education teacher, Rose Gelrod, but this year, it’s up to the school to raise the funds, co-PTA president Martine Gren said.
The school on West 44th Street, between 10th and 11th avenues, has launched a fundraising page to raise money to pay Gelrod's salary next year, in addition to fundraising via concerts and other activities.
“Prior to having a P.E. teacher, the principal would try to squeeze in some physical activity, which was mostly in the form of dance,” Gren explained.
In past years, students got their workouts in through classroom activities and partnerships with outside groups that allowed them to take part in activities like tap and ballroom dancing, but missed out on more "structural sports," Gren said.
Schools like P.S. 51 receive a budget based on the number of students enrolled and their individual needs — to be used “at the school’s discretion” to hire "teachers and other staff,” a city Department of Education spokesman said.
The school decided to use the funds it received to hire full-time art and music teachers, principal
Nancy Sing Bock told DNAinfo back in October.
Since she arrived at the school, Gelrod has been able to teach P.S. 51 students the ins and outs of sports like gymnastics and basketball.
In a video posted on the school’s Crowdrise fundraising page, Gelrod gave her take on the importance of P.E. classes to students’ development.
“Children need to have strong bodies, strong minds,” Gelrod said. “If children are going to be active for a lifetime, they have to be skilled enough to enjoy the activity."
Kids don’t have the freedom to run around after school that they did decades ago, she added.
Gren, whose daughter Natasha is a third grader at the school, said she “adored” the gymnastics unit.
“Now I can’t get her to stop doing cartwheels in the house,” she said.
The school has been working on launching a wellness program in tandem with the P.E. classes to educate students and parents about nutrition as well, she added.
“The physical activity makes [students] focus so much better,” she said. “It’s also teaching them a lot more discipline.”
As of Monday, the school's Crowdrise fundraiser has raised $1,055.
Last fall, a mother at the school ran the New York City Marathon to raise money for the school.
In the school’s fundraising video, students held signs that said “Please donate. P.S. 51 needs your help,” and “P.E. makes us strong,” among other pro-physical education sentiments.
“Please donate to our physical education and wellness program,” a female student said at the end of the video. “We totally need your help.”
