This year, holiday colors at the Cambal house in Lower Burrell include splashes of black and gold.

That was in anticipation of Hines Ward's visit Tuesday morning.

Mr. Ward stopped by the family's home before heading to Stewart Elementary School with 9-year-old Drew Cambal, one of the winners of the NFL's annual Take a Player to School contest.

Sponsored jointly by the NFL and JCPenney Afterschool Fund, the contest supports youth fitness and wellness programs. Winners in each of the 32 NFL markets and two non-NFL markets were selected to take their favorite NFL player to school for an "ultimate physical education class."

The sweepstakes winners entered the contest through the NFL Rush Web site for kids.

Upon arriving at the Cambal home, Mr. Ward introduced himself to the family, including Drew's mother, Shani; father, Geoff; sister, Courtney, 10; and grandmother and great-grandmother.

While signing Steelers jerseys, footballs and a terrible towel, Mr. Ward asked the awestruck third-grader whether he had eaten a good breakfast and was ready for school.

Everyone was then taken by limousine to Stewart Elementary, where they were greeted by exuberant students wearing black and gold beads and white Play 60 T-shirts.

"You really don't have to be a football player to get outside," Mr. Ward told the 350 Stewart Elementary students at an assembly. He encouraged them to forget about popular video games for a while and play sports to become fit and healthy.

"I played hopscotch with the best of them," Mr. Ward said, driving the message that any outdoor sport is worthwhile.

Seeming to enjoy candid questions from the students, Mr. Ward admitted it "always feels good when you win ball games," especially after wins like the one Sunday over New England.

"Needless to say, I'm very sore today, but it's a good sore," he told the students.

And to get rid of pregame jitters? He said he screams and shakes the nervousness out of his arms and legs on his way through the tunnel leading to the field.

Then he suggested that the students stand and do the same -- but only for about five seconds.

Kindergarten teacher Patty White asked whether Mr. Ward would ever consider being on "Dancing with the Stars."

"With my personality, you might see me on there," he said, jokingly.

After the assembly, it was on to the gymnasium for a third-grade physical education class that Drew and his teacher, Steve White, designed. Mr. Ward joined the class for warmup stretches and jumping jacks before they broke into groups. For an hour, the class ran relays through cones, jumped rope and received passes from the Steelers' celebrated receiver.

"Normally, I only have them for 30 minutes, so we try to work them hard," said Mr. White, adding that the day's activities were those of a typical gym class.

As educators do at many elementary schools in the area, Principal Amy Lenart stressed the importance of health and fitness throughout the curriculum. Students at Stewart Elementary have recess every day; healthy snack recommendations are sent home to parents; and all students have at least two gym classes in a six-day cycle.

"We're just happy to have the opportunity to have a role model the kids really look up to come and talk about health and fitness," she said.

Along with Mr. Ward's visit, Stewart Elementary School received a commemorative plaque and $1,000 grant from the NFL and JCPenney to be used for fitness equipment.

" I was basically speechless," said Shani Cambal when she realized her son had won the contest locally.

She admitted she might have been a bit more excited than Drew to have the superstar wide receiver stop by her home.

A longtime advocate of children's fitness programs, Mr. Ward said he is thrilled by the expressions on children's faces at events such as the one Tuesday morning.

"As a player, that's what you look forward to -- having an impact. ... I wish I would have been able to take my favorite NFL player to school," he said, adding that he sees a lot of himself in many of the young children at these events.

Quietly, Drew said the entire visit was "really cool" -- maybe even more exciting than a visit from Santa Claus.