FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Female students are receiving new opportunities to learn life-long fitness applications at Fairhope Middle School.

After teaching at Fairhope Elementary School for nine years, Kristie Andres moved to the Fairhope Middle School where she serves as the physical education coach.

To instill the importance of being physically active for life, the Fairhope Middle School girls physical education classes spend each Thursday participating in a lifetime activity such as Yoga, Pilates, Tae Bo, Boot Camp and Jazzercise.

Caroline Baggerly, who has been teaching Jazzercise on the Eastern Shore for 15 years, has volunteered to instruct the girls several times throughout this school year. She spent the day “jazzin’ it up” with FMS girls in physical education classes last Thursday.

“The girls have had an absolute blast participating in the classes and ask daily when Mrs. Baggerly will be back,” stated Kristie Andres, FMS instructor. “She’s awesome, and it’s a real treat for the girls to have her here.”

Jazzercise has been around for more than 40 years, is taught in every corner of the world and appeals to all ages and fitness levels. Jazzercise combines elements of jazz dance, yoga, pilates, stretching and strength training.

“I wish that someone had introduced Jazzercise to me when I was a teenager; I would have realized then that exercise can be fun and good for you,” said Baggerly. “I believe that our children need to find an activity they love so they will be active for a lifetime.”

On Nov. 20, the girls will bring canned goods in support of the Jazzercise Thanksgiving Food Drive and, as a pre-Iron Bowl festivity, they will be allowed to wear their favorite team colors during physical education classes. Also, these students are invited to attend a special Jazzercise class offered during the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Baggerly currently teaches 15 classes a week at the Fairhope Recreation Dept. and/or the K-1 Center. She is married to Mark and is the mother of Tyler,17, and Trent, 12. For information on classes call 929-1639.

Anyone interested in helping enhance PE activities at the middle school should contact Andres at: kandres@bcbe.org.