NORTON - A fourth-grader bounded onto the Norton High School track and declared, "Let's go walking."

Then, he and the rest of the Yelle Elementary School fourth grade - and later the fifth grade - walked laps for about 30 minutes. The 446 students' teachers hope they exercise 60 minutes daily, and eat better through a wellness program.

Walking beside former New England Patriots Jon Williams and Jim Bowman, the Yelle students kicked off their participation this week in Fuel Up to Play 60, which urges kids to "get up and play" for an hour a day and eat healthy.

Students will track their habits online through the program, which is sponsored by the NFL, the National Dairy Council and the New England Dairy and Food Council.

"Is everybody all set to go for our walk this morning? Get lots of exercise?" Yelle Principal Lisa Farrell asked fourth-graders during a warm-up assembly, including stretching, in the school gym. "Yeah!" they replied.

Norton High School wellness teacher Mike Vitelli told the students he and other teachers are focused on "teaching you to get a head start early on living healthy and eating well."

A number of students are home sick with the flu, he noted. "One of the ways to stay healthy is good exercise," Vitelli said. "It can be running. It could be walking. It could be riding a scooter."

"If you get good habits now, there's a better chance when you get older you will continue those habits," he continued.

Norton High also will participate in Fuel Up to Play 60, he said.

Vitelli brought several students from the high school's leadership council to walk beside the Yelle students. The schools share a campus.

Yelle school nurse Karen Duross-Rogers said Fuel Up to Play 60 sent wellness kits to all the town's schools.

"This is something they'll remember forever," she said while watching the fourth-graders walk the track with the high school students, Williams and Superintendent Patricia Ansay.

Students will accumulate points online, enabling them to win prizes and play games, Duross-Rogers said.

Duross-Rogers said the New England Dairy and Food Council is offering a $10,000 "healthy school makeover and a trip to the 2010 Pro Bowl. Former Patriots Williams and Bowman both have fifth-grade daughters at Yelle and are Norton residents, she added.

Williams told the fourth-graders that exercise and nutrition are key to NFL players' fitness.

"When I was growing up, we didn't have this stuff. Now the NFL is backing you guys," he said.

For more information and to nominate the Yelle school, visit http://www.newenglanddairycouncil.org/futp60/