This informal walking club also meets each Wednesday at lunch as part of Williams' Noon League, a roster of organized activities designed to encourage cooperative play and teamwork among students. On a recent Wednesday, fourth- and fifth-graders who weren't racking up their pedestrian mileage were playing classic board games like Candyland or new versions of old favorites, such as Twister Moves. Students in the lower grades broke out the hula hoops.

Alex and Connor were, of course, walking. As of Oct. 31, Alex had already hoofed 60 miles, and Connor had hit the 30-mile mark. For every 10 miles they walk or run, students receive a "milestone marker" to pin to their backpacks. The class at each grade level with the highest total miles each month gets cookies to share.

"We'd still do it without the cookies," Connor said. "It's fun."

"It's a good way to get exercise," Alex added.

Fun and fitness was what physical education teacher Tracy Cressio had in mind when she started Noon League in 1988 to ease overcrowding on school playgrounds.

The program has been in place at Williams since 1996.

Cressio said Noon League promotes playground safety by establishing more structured activities for students. In addition to board games, the program provides "corners" where students can lip-sync to their favorite songs, get an aerobic workout or take part in a quieter activity such as making friendship bracelets.

"It gives them a comfortable place to go," Cressio said.

Third-graders Shayan Manteghi and Daniel Jio said they're perfectly comfortable playing chess every day at lunchtime, although they do participate in more physical activities during regular recesses. Their chess games aren't so much about winning or losing as they are about hanging out together.

"Sometimes he wins, and sometimes I win, " Shayan said.

"Sometimes it's a stalemate," Daniel said. "He's got me in check right now."

Cressio said Noon League emphasizes cooperation over competition. "Kids learn to motivate each other," she added. "It teaches team spirit. It's not so much about winning."

Noon League does offer flag football, basketball and other traditional sports, but teams are awarded points based on how well their members work together as opposed to whether they outperform each other. Students earn "whale slips" for playing cooperatively, which they can redeem for a lunch with principal Susan Walker or other prizes such as movie passes and ice cream.

"Even if a kid's not on a team, they're out there, cheering on their team to earn cooperative points," Cressio said. "It's all about getting along and team-building."

Irik Edmonds, an instructional aide who supervises Noon League sports teams at Williams, said the program's structure makes it easy for him to keep an eye on all his student athletes. "It's a lot more organized, so kids are able to do their own thing without someone running into them," he added as a stray rubber ball bounced into the board-game corner.

Cressio said behavioral problems have also lessened in the seven years since Noon League began at Williams. "We definitely see a lower incidence of bullying," she added. "[Williams students] have a conflict-management program that goes right along with Noon League."

Second-grade teacher Mary Ann Smith said she's seen the changes in students' attitudes since Noon League was established. "It gives them a focus at noon," she said while whale-walking with some of her students. "I've been to other schools where they don't have anything to do at lunchtime. They have a few balls and a couple jumpropes."

To help Cressio tailor Noon League to a school's needs, teachers poll their students about what sort of activities they want. Parents are encouraged to participate in the program as volunteer supervisors.

Parent Connie Ledna tracks students' laps on Whale Walks, and her second-grader Caroline was up to 30 miles at October's end. "I can't get my fifth-grader to do it," Ledna said. "She doesn't want to waste her recess."

Ledna is glad so many other students find the Whale Walk worthwhile. "I didn't get into running until I was in my 20s," she said. "I love to see kids getting into it at an early age. It's a lifelong thing."