Video: Schmitz Park Elementary teachers get fox-y for Friday’s Move-A-Thon

On the eve of Schmitz Park Elementary‘s annual Move-A-Thon fitness celebration, the school staff shows their students what moving is all about – via a music video shared by principal Gerrit Kischner. The song, “What Does the Fox Say?”, is by Norway’s Ylvis – here’s the original video. The fox is the school mascot, and the principal adds:

… We are proud that we were able to capture the great community spirit that keeps Schmitz Park learning and moving. The Schmitz Park Foxes are excited about celebrating the great start we have had at our annual Move-a-thon!

By the way, I have seen questions posted on the WSB about where our beautiful fox logo came from. It is the great work of West Seattle graphic artist (and former Schmitz Park parent) Eric Bell, and we are looking forward to it transferring with us to the new building at Genesee Hill.

Here’s one of the WSB photos in which you can see the logo – taken in 2009, when astronaut Greg Johnson visited his elementary alma mater.

WSMomof3 October 17, 2013 (6:36 pm)

What a great video! It showcases the tremendous spirit at Schmitz Park and my family feels so lucky to be a part of this school. Great job Mr. Kischner, teachers and staff!

Jane October 17, 2013 (6:42 pm)

Way to go Schmitz Park Teachers! I love your spirit and those moves. So glad you share your silly side with our lucky children too. Have fun at the Move-a-thon!

Sarah October 17, 2013 (7:19 pm)

That was awesome!!! Can’t wait to cheer on our little foxes tomorrow!!

marianne October 17, 2013 (7:26 pm)

I laughed so hard I cried! Brilliant idea staff and good luck students with your Move-a-Thon.

Fiona @ Schmitz Park October 17, 2013 (7:32 pm)

I’m so impressed and I love that teachers put in 110% for our kids, even when being silly. Thank you so much!

fiz October 17, 2013 (8:01 pm)

Wow! Wish I’d had teachers like that when I was a kid.

gizoon October 17, 2013 (8:06 pm)

Ha! I loved watching my teachers dance their heads off. I can’t wait to jump, skip, scamper, scurry and, well, just MOVE tomorrow! That was awesome.

And by the way Gizoon says, “meep, meep.” Yeah and bye!

Kayla October 17, 2013 (8:13 pm)

Wow. If all Seattle schools had such vibrant teachers we would have the best school system in the country. Go teachers!!!!

WSB October 17, 2013 (8:23 pm)

I do have to say to Kayla’s point that there ARE wonderful vibrant teachers at so many schools, and we’ve spotlighted as many as we hear about. In the music video field, Schmitz Park joins a tradition that includes Denny – anybody remember this? https://westseattleblog.com/2011/01/denny-video-going-viral-teach-me-how-to-study (Side note: The director of the Denny video, Will Braden, has subsequently become famous as the “thieving filmmaker” working with Seattle’s famous tuxedo cat Henri Le Chat Noir.) Anyway, good luck to Schmitz Park tomorrow and thanks for sharing the video so we could in turn share it with the community! – TR

Schmitz Park Alum October 17, 2013 (8:40 pm)

Schmitz Park students, teacher and staff are “Smart as a Fox”! Loved the video.

SP mom October 17, 2013 (8:42 pm)

This is what makes our school so special. The teachers are so amazing! My kids absolutely loved this and are so excited for tomorrow. Thank you SP teachers!!!

Schmitz Park Mom October 17, 2013 (9:01 pm)

My son and all his friends loved watching this video at school yesterday. It is wonderful for them to see this side of the school staff. Double thumbs up to everyone involved! Looking forward to seeing all the moves this will inspire tomorrow :)

Dee October 17, 2013 (9:10 pm)

So inspirational teach!

Jenny October 17, 2013 (10:12 pm)

That’s my kid’s teacher up front in the big dance number. Woo hoo! My daughter’s been singing, “What’s the fox say?” at our house for a long time now. Go Schmitz foxes!

SPE parent October 17, 2013 (10:20 pm)

Schmitz Park staff and teachers…you are so fun and creative! Thank you for putting yourselves out there to inspire the kids (and parents). These are the moments that make us proud to be a part of such a great school community!

Pattyi October 17, 2013 (10:45 pm)

The FOX SAYS: Schmitz Park teachers – you ROCK, and ROLL! You’ve inspired me.

Lorie Bennett October 17, 2013 (11:00 pm)

Thank you Schmitz Park teachers, you are amazing. The kids loved it and are doing the dance moves all over the school.

The Move-A-Thon is a fundraiser so as one of the Co-chairs I have to put in a plug for donations. If you’d like to make a donation to the Schmitz Park Elementary school Move-A-Thon, click on the link below, then click on the “Move-A-Thon Pledge” button.

http://tinyurl.com/PledgeSchmitzPark

SP Forever Parent! October 17, 2013 (11:20 pm)

THAT was fantastic! My son came home even more pumped than he already was about the Move-A-Thon and has the entire family watching this video on replay. Brilliant work by everyone involved, way to inspire the kids!

Kara October 17, 2013 (11:27 pm)

Thank you, teachers! You truly go above and beyond. This was a good example to show our kids how you all worked as a team and had fun doing it. I bet we will hear this as we are running around the track tomorrow!

Jill October 17, 2013 (11:44 pm)

The boys were so excited to share this. We love the creativity and spirit that is alive at our school! Thank you for energizing our “smart as a fox” children!

Athena October 18, 2013 (7:01 am)

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Scmitz Park. This is our first year here and this video is just one of the many reasons we love this school! Great job & I can’t wait to run along with all the kiddos today!

Bonnie October 18, 2013 (7:13 am)

Pretty cool!

KS in WS October 18, 2013 (8:03 am)

Brilliant! Thank you for this and all the wonderful work you do, team fox!

SPEmama October 18, 2013 (9:28 am)

Best. Teachers. Ever.

Susan October 18, 2013 (9:46 am)

We are so proud of Schmitz Park. The teachers and staff are absolutely incredible. Thank you!

SPdad October 18, 2013 (10:05 am)

Nice work!
My daughter really enjoyed seeing this

Former SPE Family October 18, 2013 (10:20 am)

Great video! The Move-A-Thon is awesome!
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If they could just get their teacher-to-student ratio down to a workable amount, we would still be there. Sadly, we had to look for greener pastures this year leaving behind some really great people.
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-Former Schmitz Park family

MyEye October 18, 2013 (11:45 am)

That’s pretty dang great.

georgia October 18, 2013 (4:42 pm)

Former, there is more to a school than ratio’s. The grass always looks greener, and ratio is not the only one to consider.

Erika October 18, 2013 (7:49 pm)

We thoroughly enjoyed seeing our wonderful Schmitz Park Staff pull together this super-creative, innovative, and humorous way to inspire others to MOVE!!! Many of us parents were talking today after the Move-a-Thon about how we have such an amazing school & school community. This music video/show of support, clearly illustrates another level of how dedicated and authentic our staff are…even far beyond the classroom. Proud to be Schmitz Park Foxes!!!

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