New Britain school sets world record

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) -- Students and staff at Lincoln Elementary in New Britain have set a world record. The idea behind it was to get kids excited about exercise.

Given the boundless energy of youth, some 700 elementary schoolers active on the playground before the opening bell doesn't seem that unusual, but this is part of something so much bigger. The program, called Jam World Record 2012, strives to get as many school children exercising simultaneously as possible.  

All 700 or so kids at Lincoln Elementary spent the week limbering up for the big moment.

"We would just practice it, and if we had any trouble we would do it again, and once we got the hang of it we'd move on to the next part," said fifth grader Frankie Devevo.

As of go-time late Thursday morning, the number swelled to almost 1.3 million nationwide.

"They love it. They were especially excited about world records, because they love the Guinness Book of World Records," said Physical Education teacher Mary Ellen Farrell. "They're all about making history."

"I think it was good because we actually did something that we accomplished in four days," said fifth grader Caleb Rios.

"It makes me feel good and proud that we set something," said fifth grader Morgan Giantonio.

"It feels really awesome just to be on a world record," said fifth grader David Wadhams.

The Jam World Record 2012 program is inspired by the First Lady's "Let's Move In School" campaign.

"Michelle Obama? I'm going to vote for her," Farrell said. "I love her!"

World records may come and go but the kids at Lincoln Elementary realize that it's good habits that can last forever.

"That it helps you get physically fit and it helps you stay active," Wadhams said.

"We're going to do this every morning," Farrell said.