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 On May 6th, the third graders of Towanda Area Elementary School learned how to keep their hearts healthy from staff members of the Robert Packer Hospital. Kelly Brown, a registered nurse in the cardiac unit of the hospital, spoke to the students about the anatomy of the heart and how it works. She used two cow hearts to show them how blood flows through this important organ. Brian Seymour, a registered dietician, discussed the food pyramid and how foods affect our heart and our health. Laura McGaughey, an athletic trainer and cardiac rehab specialist, taught the children the link between the heart and regular exercise.
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 Each year, on the first Wednesday of May, children around the globe spend 15 minutes in vigorous exercise as a part of Project ACES (All Children Exercising Simultaneously). This project is an effort to combat childhood obesity while having fun. Towanda Area students have been a part of it for the past four years, dancing and moving to energetic songs such as the "Chicken Dance" and the "Hokey-Pokey" for the designated fifteen minutes (10 to 10:15 AM). At the Towanda Area High School, students enjoyed moving from class to class to the same zany songs. This event is coordinated by the Towanda School and Community Wellness Council, whose stated goal is "to promote lifetime wellness through education, practice, and integration of healthy choices for students and their families."
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 May 5th was the sixth and final Walk to School Day for Towanda students. This project of the Towanda School and Community Wellness Council is a way to encourage children and their families to walk more often and discover how much fun it is to be moving in the out-of-doors. The walk starts at the Bradford County YMCA and ends at the students' respective school buildings.
This program has been a part of the Towanda activities for five years, beginning annually with the International Walk to School/Work Day in early October. It continues through the school year on the first Wednesday of each month. This year, a total of 127 individuals - students, staff, and family members - participated. The number of walkers varied each month, ranging from 27 brave souls on the coldest day to 77 on the day after our school officer, Reggie Douglas, instructed the elementary children on pedestrian safety. The average participation was 51 per month. School nurses Terry Primrose and Linda Neiley work with the staff of the YMCA to organize this event. Each month's walk has a theme to make it even more fun. |
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 On April 30th, Mrs. Driscoll's Child Development II class led the third graders at the Towanda Area Elementary School in a great afternoon of activities that highlighted good nutrition. Five stations were run by the class members: reading a Cat in the Hat story about healthy habits; sorting food models into their respective food groups; making (then eating) a banana-peanut butter-granola tortilla; planting vegetable seeds; tasting foods and doing a sack relay race. Each third grader was encouraged to try the three colors of sweet peppers (red, orange, and yellow) as well as cantaloupe, kiwifruit, and cucumber.
This event was developed by the high school class as a part of the Project PA movement to help children learn to choose healthy lifestyles. Members are studying the nutritional and exercise needs of children as a part of their coursework. On May 19th, they will return to work alongside the third-grade students again as they teach how to pack a nutritional bag lunch. The high school and elementary school students will then share a picnic lunch, consuming the lunch each has packed.
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The final Walk to School Day for this school year will be held on Wednesday, May 5, 2010. This is an activity that will get the children (and adults) moving in a fun way. On the 5th, parents can bring their child to the Bradford County YMCA on College Avenue between 7:00 and 7:10 AM; please come inside to sign your child in for the event. Safety will be monitored carefully, and the route to each school will be chosen with safety as a priority. It will be great time of sharing and exercising together!!! Our theme will be "May Marathon", so wear something summer-colorful if you wish!
The district will continue to hold a Walk to School Day on the first Wednesday of each month starting again in October 2010. Watch for more information about the October 6th event, or check it out at www.walktoschool.org. In our district, the two classrooms with the highest participation each month will receive the Golden Sneaker Award. Relatives who walk with us count toward that participation rate, also. So mark your calendar now!!!
If you have any questions about this event, please call a school nurse at 268-2012 (JAM), 268-2021 (TAES), or 268-2060 (HS), or call the YMCA (268-9622). We encourage all children (and adults) to come along that day to show that exercise really CAN be fun!!! |
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Wellness
