Hundreds of Emily Brittain Elementary students went outside Friday afternoon equipped with jump ropes, not because of recess or gym class, but to be heart healthy.

Jacob Savinsky, a learning support paraprofessional at the Butler school, held one side of a long rope while a group of boys took turns jumping. He counted jumps each time; one boy had gotten up to 33 jumps.

“We’re trying to break each other’s records here,” Savinsky said.

The boys he supervised were smiling, laughing and beginning to work up a sweat.

Other groups took turns jumping with individual jump ropes. One teacher swung a rope in a circle and had a group of children in a row all jump at once.

The schoolwide “jumpathon” was important because it teaches students about keeping a healthy heart through regular exercise and healthy eating. The event was in conjunction with the annual Butler Heart Walk on Saturday.

Sandy Augustine, the school gym teacher, said children should get about 60 minutes of exercise every day. Jumping rope is a fun and easy way to do that, she said, because a person doesn’t need to be in a group. It requires only a rope, and it’s a great way to elevate your heart rate.

“They’re getting so much activity,” Augustine said.

Between the 30 minutes of jumping rope Friday afternoon, a 30-minute gym class and some time outside during recess, the students surpassed that 60-minute recommended threshold.

“They don’t do this enough,” said Tiffany Robinson, a learning support teacher, about physical activities. “With a lot of focus on academics and testing, it’s a nice change.”

Her daughter, 6-year-old Kaya, is a first grader at the school. Robinson said with Augustine as her daughter’s gym teacher, Kaya comes home excited about exercising and eating healthy.

“She’s in love with gym class,” Robinson said.