Go FIT goes to Square One

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD The nationally recognized Go FIT physical fitness, health and mentoring program will now be part of Square One, the former Springfield Day Nursery.

At an event on Jan. 15, Square One President and CEO Joan Kagan announced the acquisition of the program.

"We're continuing the program Susan [Jaye Kaplan] and Sally [Schneider] started," Kagan told Reminder Publications.

Go FIT was founded in January of 2005 as a program to encourage exercise as well as mentor under-privileged inner city and rural young women, explained Kaplan.

The organization was honored last year by the Points of Light foundation for its use of volunteers to help solve a community problem.

Square One has collaborated with Go FIT in the past with programs aimed at preschoolers, and Kagan said the program will be used to "develop healthy habits early in life."

"By adding Go FIT to our daily lesson planning, Square One is integrating health, nutrition and food, fitness and personal safety into the daily learning experiences of our children. We believe getting children off to a good start and establishing healthy routines early in life will help them in the long run," Kagan said.

The curriculum will now include a "Go FIT Hour," in which students will learn about these topics and these lessons will extend to parents as well, Kagan added.

Kaplan said with a smile, "They're not going to get rid of me," and she will be "behind the scenes as much to as little as they want me to be."

Although Kaplan's primary target was young women, the Go FIT audience now will be changed, Kagan said. She believes that by working with preschoolers, the program's lessons will be learned by parents and older siblings as well. The effect of the new approach will be seen in the long term, she said.