SALEM — A new running club at Saltonstall took off quickly and is laying the foundation for a track team as the school expands to K-8.
More than a third of the students in grades five/six signed up for the club, which convened every Friday afternoon for 11/2 hours.
The group stretched at school, briskly walked to the Salem Common to warm up, ran at the common and slowly walked back to Saltonstall to cool down, according to teacher Kathryn DiPietro, who coached the club with teacher Maria Schwartz.
DiPietro praised Salem State College student Alex DeRosa, a member of the college track team who volunteered his time each week to train the Saltonstall children.
"He is a phys ed major, and he was great," DiPietro said. "He taught them different techniques and drills, how to pass off the baton in relays, and ran with the distance kids and stayed by them."
The eight-week club wrapped up Friday and will resume in the fall.
"The kids were so supportive of each other," DiPietro said, "and it's mostly about getting kids to get more exercise. I wanted them to have a reason to move."
Saltonstall is expanding to offer kindergarten through eighth grade, and next year will mark its first seventh-grade classes.
"We as a staff brainstormed ideas of what we wanted to be able to offer to children in grades six to eight," DiPietro said, "especially because they're staying here in an elementary setting. One thing we came up with was a track team."
The staff hopes the running club can compete against other small local schools next year, DiPietro said. Thirty-two students participated in the club this season.
"They loved it," DiPietro said. "We had a really great time. One of their favorites was running in the building on rainy days. They liked running in the halls because it's not usually allowed."
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