COVINGTON, Ga. - Indian Creek Middle School students are reading and riding this school year thanks to media specialist, Lori McGovern, who recently installed an exercise bike in the media center.

“Our ‘Read and Ride’ bike is part of our continued transformation from a ‘library’ to a learning commons approach,” McGovern said. “We offer a variety of flexible seating options in our space, and this is our newest.

“Students who prefer to be more active are often reluctant to sit still and read, so we’re offering a way for them to keep moving while reading.”

Not only is the new bike great for students who prefer to be more active, it also ties in nicely with the school’s status as a pilot middle school for Georgia’s Power Up for 30 program that encourages a healthy lifestyle with movement and activity in the classroom.

The Power UP for 30 Program is a statewide initiative supported by the Georgia Department of Public Health to increase physical activity during the school day in Georgia schools using the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program Model promoted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“As the largest classroom in the school, I’m thrilled to be involved in the initiative,” McGovern said. “In the few days the bike has been available, it’s already proven very popular so I hope to add another bike as funds become available.”

“Active learning is an effective approach to captivate and engage our students,” Dr. Swade Huff, principal of Indian Creek Middle School, said. “With the rise in childhood obesity being a major concern in this country, Mrs. McGovern should be commended for her creative efforts to promote reading by using physical activity.  Initiatives such as the Power UP for 30 program help to educate our children at an early age about the importance of an active lifestyle.”