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Spring-Ford Area
School District
199 Bechtel Rd. Collegeville, PA
19426
610-705-6000
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Home Special Messages
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There's always something new with the Health and Wellness Program!!!
Check back often to find out what's coming soon, what's happening now, and
what you just missed!
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DATE: February, 2008
EVENT: Many of the Spring-Ford
Area third graders are enjoying the Stuffee presentation sponsored
by Nemours, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children and Kohl’s.
Stuffee is a 7-foot doll that teaches kids all about how the human
body works and why healthy eating and exercise is so important.
Children learn about how food is digested as Stuffee “eats” his
lunch. They find out that fruits and vegetables are better for you
than fast food and sugary drinks, and that exercise makes their
bodies strong and healthy. Children can listen to Stuffee’s heart
beating, take his pulse, and hold the soft sculpture reproductions
of his heart, lungs, intestines, stomach and other organs. Everyone
is having a fun time learning how our bodies work and how to keep
and stay healthy.

FOR MORE INFORMATION -
Contact
Betsy Smith, RN, CSN (Community Health, Subcommittee Chair)
PLACE: Spring-Ford School District Elementary Schools
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring-Ford School District Third
Grade Students
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DATE: January, 2008
EVENT: Puppets Pizzazz Elementary School (K-2nd Grades) Assemblies - An
interactive program with puppets, songs, exercise and audience
participation all about our wonderful bodies, how they work and how we
can keep them healthy! The Puppets Pizzazz
assembly about healthy choices is currently being enjoyed by our
kindergarten through 2nd grade students. It was a HUGE
success with audiences at Brooke, Evans, Limerick. Royersford and Oaks.
The show will present at Spring City and UPES later in the month. Veggie and fruit
puppets gave the message through jingles and song that “more matters”
when it comes to eating those two food groups. Health Necessities sung
by the hygiene group – toothbrush, soap and hairbrush puppets told about
good health habits and the importance of getting enough sleep, brushing
your teeth and grooming. The finale had the students exercising to the
song “Head and Shoulder, Knees and Toes” with Mr. Bones learning how
important moving and grooving is for a strong body along with calcium
from milk and veggies. A fun learning experience was had by all. We had
many positive evaluations from teachers and parents alike. Check
out the fun pictures below!

FOR MORE INFORMATION -
Contact
Betsy Smith, RN, CSN (Community Health, Subcommittee Chair)
PLACE: Spring-Ford School District Elementary Schools
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring-Ford School District Kindergarten to Second
Grade Students
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DATE: February, 2008
EVENT: Get Up & Go! Betsy Tecco's will be back again this year
with her popular program! Previously presented in the evening, Get
Up & Go will now be during the school day so many elementary students
can discover how to improve their student body and tap the ENERGY to
EXCEL!
FOR MORE INFORMATION -
Contact
Betsy Smith, RN, CSN (Community Health, Subcommittee Chair)
PLACE: Various Spring-Ford School District Elementary Schools
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring-Ford School District Elementary Students
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DATE: Periodically throughout the school year
EVENT: Family FIT (Families in Training) - Each month, Brooke and UPES
Elementary School will have a new focus! Look for details about
upcoming Yoga, Tai Chi, a family hike, a bike ride, and more fun!
Limerick Elementary will be adding their own Family FIT night soon! A
new program designed by some parents and the parent organizations, with
regular family-oriented fitness programs at the elementary schools.
Look for aerobics, family volleyball nights, and other fun exercise
evenings for the whole family!
FOR MORE INFORMATION - Or to add your ideas: Contact
Michele Decerio for information about UPES's Family FIT or
H&W Program Coordinator, Dr. Laurie Betts, M.D. for information
about Brooke or Limerick's Family FIT
PLACE: Spring-Ford School Districts Elementary Schools
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring-Ford School District Families
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PREVIOUS PROGRAMS |
DATE: Wednesday,
April 25, 2007
EVENT:
First ever 11th Grade
Health Fair!!!
The Spring-Ford Area School District’s Health
and Wellness Program will be holding a student health fair for
eleventh graders at the high school on Wednesday, April 25, in
conjunction with the Health and PE program. The health fair will run
throughout the school day, and attending students will come for a
class period. They will visit the fifteen exhibiting stations, which
include a rock gym, martial arts, drug addiction prevention,
dermatology, mental health, infectious disease prevention,
nutrition, stress management, DUI’s, emergency medical services,
cancer prevention, pilates & yoga, and fitness with “virtual”
goggles.
Drawings will be held and door prizes, giveaways, and educational
materials will be given out to the students. One of the goals of the
health fair is to have it be a fun and interactive learning
experience for students. All the exhibitors are volunteering their
time and expertise for the health fair, and the Health and Wellness
Program is excited to be able to offer this project to the students.
FOR MORE INFORMATION -
Contact
Laurie Betts, MD (Program Coordinator)
PLACE: Spring-Ford High School Auxiliary Gym
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring-Ford School District 11th Grade Students
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DATE:
Tuesday, April 24th
@ 7pm
EVENT:
Puppets Pizzazz will
perform a series of skits about healthy choices: 5 A Day, nutrition,
exercise, personal hygiene, classroom etiquette and more. Adults and
children alike will have a great time at this interactive evening
with the puppets while enforcing healthy choices.
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DATE:
Wednesday, February 7th,
2007@ 7pm
EVENT:
Ross DeSimone, local
psychologist,
presented an
energetic talk on Stress Management at this year's third Healthy Choice
Community offering. Attendees went away with effective strategies to
measure their vulnerability to stress, stress warning signs and how to
make S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, action-oriented, REALISTIC,
time-based) goals to relieve their stress.
FOR MORE INFORMATION -
Contact
Betsy Smith, RN, CSN (Community Health, Subcommittee Chair)
PLACE: Royersford Elementary School
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring-Ford School District Families
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DATE: Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Here at Brooke
Elementary School we had a great time on October 25th,
Apple Crunch Day.

Mrs. Betsy Smith, the
nurse dressed up like a big apple (see picture) and first had
Wellness Wednesday on the morning announcements. The fourth grade
“WW” helpers wore their apple “hats” and gave facts about apples and
also safety tips for Halloween over our closed TV station. First
grade helpers wore their apple hats and gave the weather facts for
the day.
Our cafeteria
personnel served apples all week with apple sauce, apple crisp,
apple slices and apple juice.
The students really
got into the spirit at lunchtime when Mrs. Smith visited each lunch
in costume as the “big apple”.
We will have a grand
bulletin board displaying our “apple activities” in the lobby.
Did you know there are
over 2,500 varieties of apples grown in the United States? Which are
your favorites?
Happy Apple Crunch
Day!!!
FOR MORE INFORMATION - Contact
Betsy Smith, RN, CSN (Community Health, Subcommittee Chair)
PLACE: Brooke Elementary
TARGET AUDIENCE: Students |
DATE: Tuesday, October 24, 2006
EVENT:
Families in Motion, Community Presentation by
Morgan Arthur, Spring Valley YMCA
About 35 children and adults attended the Health and
Wellness Program's first of four free community
presentations on Tuesday, October 24. Morgan Arthur,
from the Spring Valley YMCA, brought three staff members
from the YMCA and began his Families In Motion evening by
setting up eight stations where everyone could do various
activities, which ranged from
balancing practice to fun abdominal work to using medicine
balls for lunges, to skipping rope. The evening's highlight
was the versatility of each station, so that anyone with any
level of ability could participate and challenge themselves
at any station. Having each station so well-staffed was a
big plus, as everyone was able to get one-on-one
personalized attention and instruction. Mr. Arthur's
experience and knowledge were a great asset to the evening.
The evening's activities were enjoyed by all, with lots of
laughter and giggling from the participants (especially the
younger ones!). Teachers from both primary and secondary
schools participated as well. The presentation was held at
Upper Providence Elementary School, and was coordinated by
our Community Presentations Chair, Betsy Smith, RN, CSN,
from Brooke Elementary school. There will be three
additional presentations in this year's series - one on
carcinogens and cancer connections, as well as one
addressing nutritional topics. Check in on the website often
to see what's coming up.
FOR MORE INFORMATION - Contact
Betsy Smith, RN, CSN (Community Health, Subcommittee Chair)
PLACE: Upper Providence Elementary
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring-Ford Families |
DATE: Wednesday, October 4 (5), 2006
EVENT:
Several schools participated in Walk
to (or at) School Day on October 4th.
Brooke Elementary walked on October 5th
due to picture day on the 4th. Students and teachers
walked the track joining a state-wide event sponsored by PANA
Keystone Healthy Zone – Pennsylvania advocates for nutrition and
activity.
PANA was established by the Pa. Dept.
of Health through funding from the Centers for Disease control and
Prevention with programs delivered through Penn State.
www.panaonline.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION - Contact
Betsy Smith, RN, CSN (Community Health, Subcommittee Chair)
PLACE: Brooke Elementary and various other schools
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring-Ford Students |
DATE: October 4, 2006
EVENT:
National Walk To School Day and National Walk To The Bus Stop Day -
Families are encouraged to walk to school or walk to the bus stop on
this day! The Centers for Disease Control and the Department of
Transportation are joining together to help promote the goal of doubling
the number of students that walk to school and/or to the bus stop!
Let's do our part!
FOR MORE INFORMATION - For more information, contact
H&W Program Coordinator, Dr. Laurie Betts, M.D.
PLACE: Starting at your house!
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring-Ford School District Families
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DATE: October 3, 2006
EVENT: October Family FIT (Families in Training) Event - Bike riding in
Manderach at 6:30!
FOR MORE INFORMATION - Contact
Michele Decerio for information about UPES's Family FIT or
H&W Program Coordinator, Dr. Laurie Betts, M.D. for information
about Brooke or Limerick's Family FIT
PLACE: Spring-Ford School Districts Elementary Schools
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring-Ford School District Families
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DATE: Friday, September 29, 2006
EVENT:
On Friday Sept. 29th
Brooke families enjoyed an Extreme Circuit Fitness Night run by Leslie
Ruffo and Shirleen Smiley.
Attendees moved through
jump rope, push-ups, hula hoop, crunches, squats and lunges then moved
on the jogging, jumping jacks, shuffle side to side and lunge all to
lively music. They followed with stepping, fire hydrants (bet you don’t
know what that is), chest pass, bean bag toss and deck ring toss to move
movin’ groovin’ music.
The even ended with a 10
minute stretch and relaxation session. All left feeling great about
their fitness experience.
FOR MORE INFORMATION - Contact
Betsy Smith, RN, CSN (Community Health, Subcommittee Chair)
PLACE: Brooke Elementary School
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring-Ford Families |
DATE: September 9, 2006
EVENT: Limerick Community Days - What a splash!! Dr. Marsha Hurda
(SF Superintendent, pictured, right), along with Sue Vukovich (nurse,
Limerick), volunteered for the dunk tank. Throughout the event, a
variety of Spring-Ford Staff
and Health and Wellness committee members were on hand to promote good
choices. Bridgette Mullins (nurse, Spring City), Deb Zelle (nurse,
Upper Providence) and Betsy Smith (nurse, Brooke) manned the Healthy
Choice table with lots of hand-outs about healthy choices and spoke with
many community people about our district involvement in the state-wide
healthy choice program and how to become an involved community
participant. Sherri Shaner (nurse, SFHS) manned the SADD (Students
Against Destructive Decisions) table along with
Patti Staley (physical education, SFHS) and Joelle Bieber (physical
education, SFHS) and SADD committee students providing information about
this most important program with a striker bell we heard throughout the
day. The striker represented the decision to strike out destructive
decisions whether it is unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, drugs,
alcohol etc.
MORE INFORMATION - For more information, contact
Betsy Smith, RN, CSN (Community Health, Subcommittee Chair)
PLACE: Mandarach Park
TARGET AUDIENCE: Limerick and surrounding communities
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DATE: September 19, 2006
EVENT:
Betsy Smith attended the PANA satellite
update!
PANA now has a site and involvement
for our teens called “nrg” Powered by Choice. This is an innovative
cause campaign for youth ages 12-18 to promote and lead changes that
support healthy eating and active lifestyles in schools and
communities. It doesn’t matter if youth belong to the school
newspaper, football team, math club, or 4H, they can all be part of
making powerful and healthy changes. School and community based
youth groups will be encouraged to work together to make healthy
changes in their schools.
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DATE: 2006
EVENT:
Contract for Health for
the New Year! This contract can serve as a great starting point
for parents and children to discuss fun, new ways to make 2006 their
healthiest year yet! It's never too late to begin ~ Just have your
child return the signed contract to his/her homeroom teacher ASAP!
Or email completed contract to
H&W Program Coordinator, Dr. Laurie Betts, M.D.
MORE INFORMATION - Or to add your ideas: Contact
H&W Program Coordinator, Dr. Laurie Betts, M.D.
PLACE: You decide!
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring-Ford School District Families
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DATE: Thursday, May 25, 2006 at 7:00 P.M.
EVENT:
Community
Support Group Meeting Join the Health and Wellness Program's
Community Support Group as they plan for the future! Some
dedicated members of this committee met and two main areas were focused
on:
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Spring-Ford's School Board will be voting soon on a
Health and Wellness Policy. During the next school year our
program will need to help educate the Spring-Ford community about
this new policy.
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Betsy Tecco's subgroup is forging ahead with a
proposal for a school based Health Fair to take place during the
next school year. More details to follow!
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DATE: April 18, 2006, 7:00 P.M.
EVENT:
Make Time
for Health Workshop presented by Kelly Fygok, Registered Pediatric
Clinical Dietician from CHOP. Parents can learn how to keep
children healthy, while trying new foods and leave with a week's worth
of recipe ideas! Click on the handout link for more details!
MORE INFORMATION:
Ms. Fugok's presentation was sponsored by the PA
Dietetic Association Foundation. Her
presentation was interactive, and included
instruction on reading labels, discussion of
fats, artificial sweeteners, the importance of
calcium, portion sizes, dietary fiber, picky
eaters, the new food pyramid, and other
topics. Ms. Fugok gave tips on how to get
children to make healthy dietary choices. Real
products were used to assist the audience in
learning how to read nutrition labels, and what
to look for when reading them.
It was a very audience-friendly presentation,
and many questions from the audience were
answered. Hand-outs with websites, healthy
recipes, and other resources were given out. At
the conclusion of the program, healthy door
prizes and trail mix were given to those who
attended. It was an extremely fun, educational,
and successful evening. If you'd like copies of
the hand-outs, please contact
Betsy
Smith, RN CSN or
H&W Program Coordinator, Dr. Laurie Betts, M.D.
Check back on the site often for more
information on our continuing Community
Presentation series!
PLACE:
Brooke
Elementary School
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring-Ford School District Families
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DATE: Thursday, March 9, 2006 7 P.M.
EVENT: Frank Pogash, Director of Children's Services at Creative Health
Services in Spring City, will discuss anxiety and depression in
childhood/adolescence, how to recognize the disorders, how to approach
the young person and how to access services
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DATE: Wednesday, February 1, 2006 ~ 7 P.M. - 8 P.M.
EVENT:
An Overview of Eating
Disorders provided by Wendy Cramer, M.Ed., the Clinical Outreach
Coordinator at Renfrew Center Foundation for Eating Disorders. Ms.
Cramer will point out some behaviors that may indicate an eating
disorder in a child and some helpful steps to take if that is the case.
MORE INFORMATION -
Betsy
Smith, RN CSN or
H&W Program Coordinator, Dr. Laurie Betts, M.D.
PLACE: 8th Grade Media Center
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring-Ford School District Interested Parents and
Community Members
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DATE: January 17, 2006
EVENT: Family FIT (Families in Training)
begins!!!! This new program is designed by parents and parent
organizations and it got off to its start in January at Brooke and UP
Elementary Schools.
- At UPES, Michele Decerio ran an aerobics-type class with a number of
exercise stations in between aerobic activities. The stations
included a parachute, basketball dribbling, balancing on one foot and
more! Cost was only $3 and the students that participated will get
a Lance Armstrong bracelet saying "Commit 2B Fit" in February.
- At Brooke, families had fun while going through different stations of
exercise like step, "fire hydrant", bean bag toss, lunges, basketball,
jump rope, pushups and more!
FOR MORE INFORMATION - Contact
Michele Decerio for information about UPES's Family FIT or
H&W Program Coordinator, Dr. Laurie Betts, M.D. for information
about Brooke's Family FIT
PLACE: Upper Providence Elementary School and Brooke Elementary Schools
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring-Ford School District Families
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DATE: Fall, 2005
EVENT: After School Elementary Walking Programs!!!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact
Dr. Leslie Morrill, Spring-Ford School District Health and Wellness
Program
Co-Chairperson
PLACE: ALL Spring-Ford Elementary Schools!!!!
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring-Ford 3rd, 4th, 5th, and
6th Grade Students
****Brooke's Walking Wizards totaled 1,951,524 steps
for 800 miles!!! WOW!
****The Intermediate School Walkers tracked their progress by heading
west! After each session, they pooled their miles and set a new
pin on a U.S. map to show how far they've gone. They made great
progress all fall!
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DATE: Thursday, November 10, 2005 at 7 P.M.
EVENT:
Get Up & Go Program -
Discover how to improve the shape of our student body and tap the ENERGY
to EXCEL!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact
Betsy
Smith, RN CSN
PLACE:
Brooke
Elementary Gymnasium
TARGET AUDIENCE: All are welcome!
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DATES: November 7th through
and including December 12, 2005
EVENT:
Healthy Choices After School Elementary Walking Program
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact
Dr. Leslie Morrill, Supervisor of Staff Development (610-705-6084)
PLACE: All Elementary Schools including the 5/6 Intermediate School
TARGET AUDIENCE: 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Elementary Students |
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DATE: Friday, October 28, 2005 -
Registration at 6 PM, Dancing begins at 6:30
EVENT: Royersford Elementary Dance-A-Thon
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact
H&W Program Coordinator, Dr. Laurie Betts, M.D.
PLACE: Royersford Elementary School
TARGET AUDIENCE: Royersford Elementary Students - Presented by
Royersford PTO |
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DATE: Wednesday, October 26, 2005,
All Day
EVENT: Brooke Elementary Health and Wellness (H&W) Day
Leading up to the event, Mrs.
Pronchik, (guidance counselor), and Mrs. B. Smith (school nurse)
gave healthy hints on morning announcements with fourth grade
students helping Mrs. Smith on Wellness Wednesday, October 19th
. Mrs. Kodish used the Spring-Ford Healthy Choices poster in
her classes during lesson time. On the big day everyone wore their
brand new spirit wear Brooke shirts and teachers wore their blue and
gold shirts. It looked like a rainbow at the assembly program.
Students from the Healthy Occupation and Culinary Arts programs of
our vocational school, The Western Center for Technical Studies were
our guests at assembly and after a rousing sing along with Ms.
Schodle our music teacher, our guests shared some ways to make
healthy choices. Do you know how much fat is in a kids’ meal at a
fast food restaurant? Some hints from the Western Center students:
when eating, eat at the table with a portion, not out of the snack
bag; exercise – take a walk after meals instead of watching TV or
playing video games, use portion control. The culinary arts students
made some wonderful healthy snacks in their demonstration: breakfast
parfaits with cereal, yogurt and fruit; celery logs with cream
cheese and raisins, fruit kabobs and pepper dip cups with veggies.
Then everyone then went out to the track and walked a mile – it was
really great!! Brooke teachers and staff will continue the healthy
choice focus throughout the year with PE, guidance and health
lessons.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact
Betsy Smith, RN, CSN
PLACE: Brooke Elementary School
TARGET AUDIENCE: Brooke Elementary Students and Staff |
DATE: Tuesday, October, 25, 2005 at 7 P.M.
EVENT: Community Meeting to discuss the Health and Wellness (H&W)
Program, how adult community members can get involved with the H&W
Program, and for the H&W Program Coordinator to hear people's comments
and ideas.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact
H&W Program Coordinator, Dr. Laurie Betts, M.D.
PLACE:
Brooke
Elementary Library
TARGET AUDIENCE: All community adults are welcome!
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DATE: Tuesday, October 18, 2005,
All Day
EVENT: Spring City Elementary Health and Wellness (H&W) Day - The entire
school will incorporate a focus on Health and Wellness throughout the
day! In the days leading up to H&W Day, Mr. Harrison and Mr. West
(P.E. teacher and student teacher) will set the stage with "Fit Tips"
and an emphasis on Healthy Choices during gym class. Everyone will
show up wearing Blue and Gold and classroom teachers will use this day
as an opportunity to discuss the recently created SFSD Health and
Wellness Posters that will hang in every room. There will be an
all school walk for 15 minutes that morning and the cafeteria menu that
day will limit the snack choices to pretzels, popcorn and fresh fruit.
Teachers will join the students to eat at lunch and enjoy the "Wild
About Healthy Choices Knowledge Challenge." Afternoon activities
include exercising to music with Mrs. Dolente (school nurse). All
in all a fun health & wellness filled day!!!! The focus won't stop
after that day - The teachers and staff will continue with physical
education lessons, guidance lessons, and health lessons that maintain
the focus on making good choices!!!!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact
Connie Dolente, R.N.
PLACE: Spring City Elementary School
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring City Elementary Students and Staff |
DATE: Wednesday, May 4, 2005, 7 P.M.
PRESENTER: Cheryl Herold, R.D., L.D.N., a clinical
pediatric dietician
PLACE: Spring-Ford Area Senior High School Cafeteria
Annex
TARGET AUDIENCE: Parents, Community Members,
District Employee
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DATE: Beginning the week of April 18, 2005
EVENT: After School Walking Program for 4th Grade
Students!!!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact
Dr. Leslie Morrill, Spring-Ford School District Health and Wellness
Program
Co-Chairperson
PLACE: ALL Spring-Ford Elementary Schools!!!!
TARGET AUDIENCE: Spring-Ford 4th Grade Students
****BROOKE WALKING FINAL UPDATE!! Brooke Elementary School's
Wonderful Wonder Walkers REACHED THEIR GOAL OF 400 MILES on May 25!
Twelve students participated with "guest" teacher and parent walkers
invited along to reach the goal. Afterwards, the students
celebrated with fruit kabobs, pretzels and juice. Way to go
walkers!!!!
This goal was achieved in less than six weeks!
Their efforts included walking during recess and after school and on
Wednesday, May 4 there was a POWER WALK DAY! On that
day, all staff and students
walked for 20 minutes and the 4th grade after school walkers
added to that total from 4 to 5!!! This tied in with Brooke's
annual school wide walk as part of the world wide effort of ACES (All
Children Exercising Simultaneously). Congratulations to Brooke's
Wonderful Wonder Walkers!!!! I wonder what next year's goal
will be?
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DATE: Wednesday, April 6, 2005, 7 P.M.
PRESENTER: Morgan Arthur, Spring Valley YMCA Wellness Director
PLACE: Spring-Ford Area Senior High School Auditorium
TARGET AUDIENCE: Parents, Community Members, District
Employees
Parents and community members were greeted by members
of the Health and Wellness Program subcommittees including many of our building nurses!
Colorful posters, video presentations and informative handouts were on
display outside of the auditorium. Once everyone was seated, Dr.
Morrill provided a brief overview of the program and introduced Dr.
Laurie Betts, the recently hired Coordinator of the Health and Wellness
Program. Dr. Betts shared her enthusiasm for this new program and
then introduced Mr. Arthur, the evening's guest speaker. Mr.
Arthur's passion for family fitness was obvious throughout his
presentation and he welcomed questions and answers from the audience.
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