Tiny voices echo down the staircase.

"One more minute left. One more minute left," calls a group of kindergarten students as they bounce down the stairs of King George School.

If it's Tuesday, it's time for Stairmasters, 10 continuous minutes of climbing and descending the century-old staircases that begin just inside the school's main entrance and rise three flights to the top of the building. It's a routine that involves everyone in the building; students from kindergarten to Grade 8, teachers, staff, and even substitute teachers are all part of the club.

It started small. Vice-principal and physical education teacher Anne-Marie Rollo made a spur-of-the-moment decision one January day to have phys ed students get active by running stairs. It didn't go well.

"None of them could do 10 minutes of up and down the stairs," Rollo said. "We noticed that with their cardiovascular level, sustaining 10 minutes was difficult. We decided, since we are super grateful to be in this castle school, why don't we get the kids sustaining 10 minutes of physical activity and see where we can go with it."

Getting everyone on board took some time. There were the expected protests, but after a few weeks students latched on to the activity and began encouraging each other with high-fives and shouts of 'you got this.' Running (or walking) the stairs became a school-wide event, not a chore.

"There was moaning at first, maybe for the first month or so. Now it's like 'when's Tuesday?' They are looking forward to it because they can do it," Rollo said. "Every single child in this school can do 10 minutes now — it's incredible. Tuesday is their favourite day because we run stairs. They have completely bought into it."

The buy-in has extended to staff. Teachers who have prep time when their class goes for phys ed take 10 minutes to join their students on the stairs and educational assistants accompany the students they work with as they walk up and down.

The support of Jen Walters, the school's administrative assistant, played an important part in building momentum among students and she joins each class as they run the stairs. During her time at King George, she hasn't seen anything engage the entire school in the same way as Stairmasters.

"It has brought everyone together. It's given this building a lift," she said.

Stairmasters is helping change the attitude of students toward physical education class. Often there were those who would refuse to take part. Now, the 10 minutes of stairs to start each Tuesday class has improved well-being and created a positive attitude toward being active. Rollo sees the proof when the hoodies and jackets that act as a protective shell for many students are removed in order to run stairs.

"It's literally changing the way that they feel," she said. "Obviously, physically, they see it, but I think everyone is seeing a change in behaviours all across the school."

It's also helped students better concentrate on their education. The opportunity to expend energy through stairs and phys ed class means students are calmer and more focused when they return to the classroom. Behaviour issues have decreased and engagement in learning is on the rise.

Parents have noticed. They share stories with staff of how their children talk about running stairs, report improved physical fitness and even, during recent part-teacher conferences, join their kids on the stairs to experience it for themselves.

The activity is a way to strengthen the school community and build connections between students. That includes the relationship between kindergarten students and older students who are part of a program where students develop and increase personal skills as part of their overall learning.

"The Senior students have really helped out because they become the mentors to those really little kids. They hold their hand as they go up and down the stairs," Rollo said.

"To have that class be the leaders has completely changed the way they look at themselves. It has given them confidence; it's given them leadership skills. Every Tuesday they are here, they don't miss the class, they take it seriously. We have them partnered up with kids who need help, and they go and don't stop for 10 minutes."

The school celebrated during a school assembly held March 29 with a video highlighting the effort of students and the presentation of King George Stairmaster T-shirts to every student and staff member.

Rollo is pleased, though a bit surprised, with its success. The enthusiasm of students has provided more opportunities for healthy activities, with the addition of 10-minute core workouts every Thursday and Friday and a goal to start a running group once spring fully arrives.

"I think what's great about it, is it's taking on its own life. We didn't push it and plan it. We are just going to keep going and see what happens," she said. "It has completely changed the way I look at physical activity — it is the catalyst. I knew that, but you don't actually know that until you actually do it."