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Schools

Healthy and They Know it: That's How They Roll

They work out. They also grow and eat their own greens at Parkway School.

What better way to kick off a month of wellness than bringing the entire school together in the gym to dance The Dougie?

When the principal vows to join her students in physical education class. When the gym teacher leads 300+ students in a wiggling and hopping dance. Then you can't go wrong. 

Here are the highlights of four-week program designed to instill a lifetime of healthy habits:

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• Visits from a local organic farmer who’ll help students start an herb garden,

• Discussion with a fitness trainer on topics including how to lift weights correctly,

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• “How Much Sugar is in That Anyway?” presentation,

• Fear Factor Taste Test in the cafeteria,

• Fruit and Veggie Challenge – Students keep track of the number of fruit and veggie servings per day.

• Fitness Challenge – With a goal of 60 minutes per day, kids log their PE time, recess and after school activities.

• Prizes – Students who complete both challenges will receive pedometers and be entered in raffles for fun prizes.

Team Effort
Spearheaded by the PTA Wellness Committee co-chairs Ann Marie Alonzi and Diane Pignataro, the month-long effort builds on a week-long program piloted last year. 

According to Alonzi, the program had the blessing of new principal, , successor to , who resigned last spring. “We could not possibly have pulled off the assembly today or this month without her help …. (Allen) has made a positive difference in a very short time.”

Along with PE teacher Bill Woodson, assistant principal Deborah Cline, and Allen, the wellness moms set about the business of making fitness and nutrition fun.

The kick-off assembly was held in the school gymnasium, with all 257 students and their teachers spread out across a sea of blue gymnastics mats. The excitement was palpable as Allen gave a rundown of a month's worth of activities and contests the students would partake in.

The Dougie Dance
Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived. The lights were dimmed. All the better to view the large screen on the stage when the dancing began. With Allen, Woodson, and Cline engulfed in a sea of kids in socks, the music video started and everyone danced The Dougie.

Increased Scrutiny of School Lunch Offerings
Empowered by increased knowledge, and energized by the Move-Your-Body theme, Parkway students may even join the group of parents advocating for improved school lunches.

The 2010 Harris survey, which measures satisfaction , indicates the students have an issue with school food – especially at the elementary and middle school level. With 63% of 5th graders polled saying that they did not like the food served in the lunchroom, and, at middle school level, 65% of students saying they did not like the food served in the lunchroom, the level of dissatisfaction drove the issue to the top of the list of concerns. Not until high school does the level of dissatisfaction with food served in the lunchroom drop, and then, only to 44%. 

It is interesting to note that the district's school lunches are cooked at Greenwich High School and reheated at the elementary and middle schools. Students on free and reduced lunch are limited to the hot “plate” selection versus an a la carte option.

February: School Lunch Offerings Discussion Heats Up
In February the PTA Council (PTAC) District Wellness Committee will meet with the Board of Education. The topic: Better School lunches. Currently petitions asking the BOE to improve nutritional quality of cafeteria food and beverages are circulating in the public schools. 

Watch This Space
Follow Patch for coverage on the school lunch debate. Meanwhile, don’t miss the entire Parkway School population dance The Dougie.

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