Horizon English School Tackles Dubai Fitness Challenge 2020

Horizon English School has designed a series of creative and exciting 30 minute in-class and virtual fitness challenges for students as part of this year’s Dubai Fitness Challenge and has launched the ‘30x30 Family Fitness Challenge’ to encourage parents to participate in fitness activities from the comfort of their homes.

Students and parents will complete a number of set fitness challenges over the course of the 30x30 Challenge from 30th October to 28th November 2020. In-class activities include; ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors Challenge’ in which students recreate the quirky game with work-out positions while seated – winners get a point and the opposition must complete set exercises and the ‘Fitness Name Game’ in which students complete the challenges set across the alphabets in their name. Students can participate in the challenges individually, in teams and as a whole class during movement breaks on campus. Facilitated by the class teachers and in adherence to KHDA safety guidelines and social distancing protocols, all in-class activities will improve stamina, body posture, and focus on core and muscle strengthening.

“Our aim at Horizon English School is to bring our school community closer to one another and through the Dubai Fitness Challenge we want to further encourage a healthy lifestyle and a stronger sense of togetherness. We are enthusiastic for the energetic month ahead and excited to share this moment with our Horizon community,” says Ian Wallace, Principal of Horizon English School.

The Jumeirah campus will transform its school field and tennis courts into different fitness circuit zones and obstacle courses as students will be encouraged to take part in exciting challenges, such as ‘Wake up, Shake up’ aerobics, ‘Horizon Free Fox Game’, ‘Ship, Sharp, Shore Agility Game’ as well as yoga. Additionally, students can work in class teams and challenge other classes in virtual fitness activities. For example, in ‘Tic Tac Toe’, teams take turns to place virtual counters on challenges and the opposition needs to finish the challenge in order to complete the counter – the first team to get three counters in a row wins the game. In ‘Connect4’ – classes compete with similar rules, and the team to complete four counters in a row wins the game.

David Tangney, Assistant Head Teacher at Horizon English School and head of the Dubai Fitness Challenge for the school says, “The Dubai Fitness Challenge is an opportune moment to teach children about the important values of determination, perseverance and hard work. Through our participation, we are stimulating our students’ mind and bodies, while also improving their physical and mental wellbeing. We want to excite our students about their health and wellbeing, while positively reinforcing team building skills, sportsmanship and healthy camaraderie.”  

This year, Horizon English School’s fitness inspired activities extends to the whole family through the ‘30x30 Family Fitness Challenge’, which will encourage parents to challenge themselves to complete various fitness challenges with their children at home. From simple activities such as family walks and YouTube links to 30-minute yoga sessions, to a 30-day plank challenge for the brave hearted, parents will receive daily fitness activities from the school. Furthermore, Horizon English School has partnered with Bell Café to provide parents with healthy and easy to make recipes for fruit smoothies, salads, and pancakes to prepare and enjoy together with the family.