JUMPING jacks, straddle sits and push-ups galore have been practised and perfected by the girls at White Hills Primary School, in readiness for the aerobics performance stage.Three teams of youngsters head to Geelong next Saturday to compete in the preliminary round of the Victorian Schoolaerobics Championships.The Electrifiers, coached by Adaline Grayling, and the Blazing Stars, led by Jac Smith, will contest the Primary Stage One category, performing a two-minute pre-choreographed aerobics routine to the Elvis Presley classic Burning Love.The more experienced Liquefiers team, under the guidance of co-ordinator Meaghan Smith, are presenting their own unique routine to Differently, by Cassie Davis, in the Primary Novice section.It is the second year in a row that White Hills has entered the competition, which aims to promote fitness, health and self-esteem.Miss Smith said there was a strong chance at least one team would make it through to the state finals in June, with winners there progressing through to the nationals in Brisbane in August.She said the girls had been training since December for the event and were now meeting three or four times a week, including on weekends, in the lead-up to the big day.“They are really dedicated,” she said, adding that the 20 students involved were very excited about Saturday’s trip, despite having to be up before dawn and at school to catch the bus at 4.45am.Schoolaerobics is a national competition open to boys and girls from grade 3 to year 12.Miss Smith said the performances could best be described as “dance routines with aerobics moves”.These included plenty of push-ups, flexibility stretches and high-energy jumping jacks (think star jumps without the arms). Miss Smith introduced the aerobics program at White Hills after being involved in the competition when she worked at St George’s Road Primary School in Shepparton.She said it was great for team building and improving fitness levels, and was suitable for almost any student willing to have a go.“They don’t have to be a particular shape or size to be involved - it’s all about attitude,” she said.“If they are prepared to train and put in the hard yards, you can make a team out of girls who have little experience.”Miss Smith said participants made great friends through the School aerobics experience and learnt the value of teamwork and working towards a goal.And she said regardless of their final results, all the White Hills girls would come away from the event as winners. “What really matters is that they will have had great fun participating and having a go - that’s the most important thing.”The teams are: Liquefiers: Alannah Sherridan, Bridie Kent, Latesha McDonnell, Ebony May, Hayley Burton, Nicole Erwin and Amber McLeod.Electrifiers: Maddison Ridsdale, Zara Keegan, Kiara Verbeek, Katherine Collins, Kyra Threlfal and Isabelle Gattsche.Blazing Stars: Ashlee Taylor, Jessica Saffron, Hannah Grant, Hayley Dunne, Amber McConnell, Ashleigh Butcher and Tia Hendy.