The Year of Wellness in Huntington
Everyone wants to have healthy and fit children and the Huntington School District has committed to do its fair share toward ensuring its students have sound minds and strong bodies, too.
District officials say there will be a consistent effort this year to emphasize the need for students of all ages to log off their computer, Wii, PlayStation or similar game device, turn off the television and head outside for a brisk walk, bicycle ride, relaxing run or to play in the yard or at a local park with friends.
This is the "Year of Wellness" in the district. With a steady stream of research showing an alarming degree of obesity, Type II diabetes and poor nutrition among America's youth, Huntington school officials are working to do something about it.
The district has a very active and energetic Comprehensive Health Advisory Council that meets regularly and weighs in on a variety of related issues. Georgia McCarthy, Huntington's director of physical education, health and interscholastic athletics, serves as the CHAC's chair and she takes the group's work seriously.
"We want to increase the intensity of our wellness efforts this year," Mrs. McCarthy said. "We plan on doing this through a number of initiatives, including a new section on the district website where we will share 'healthy hints,' including articles, recipes, tips for eating healthy and for getting active outside of school hours."
Huntington's cafeterias are on the health kick, as well. Menus have evolved in recent years. Healthy food choices are now the norm across the district. The items offered are more nutritious than before and there's less sugar, salt and saturated fats.
Many students bring lunch from home. "Overall, the lunches brought from home are quite healthy, but there's always room for improvement," Mrs. McCarthy said. That's where the new district website section might be useful for parents interested in learning more. There will also be an effort to educate both students and parents about the essential difference between "snacks" and "treats" and how healthy and nutritious foods can taste good, too.
"Rather than just throwing up our arms and waving a white flag, we are determined to create a culture that instills in students of all ages the value of living an active and fit lifestyle," Superintendent John J. Finello said. "This is a priority in our district."
Mr. Finello is an exercise enthusiast himself. He regularly trains at a local gym, attends Blue Devil athletic events and as principal of Washington School, was known to frequently stop in the gym and participate in physical education classes.
"The connection between a healthy body and a healthy mind is well documented," said Bari Fehrs, president of the district's PTA Council. "The school environment is the perfect partner with the home environment to increase physical activity. I've enjoyed seeing the Southdown PTA Fitness Challenge grow each year. I helped organize it six years ago and would love to see it expand to all the schools. The Year of Wellness is a great idea."
"Teaching students about healthy practices and encouraging them to embrace such practices is a most worthwhile undertaking for any school district," Mr. Finello said. "Consuming healthy foods and exercising regularly helps students feel better. It gives them more energy and it allows them to be more alert and ready to learn."
Mrs. McCarthy said the district's health and physical education teachers and coaches will be doing their part. "Students need to know how to read food labels and what to look for," she said. "We want students to understand the detriments of so-called energy drinks loaded with caffeine and sugar and the danger of consuming too much high calorie, high fat fast food.
"Our students always seem to rise to meet any challenge," Mr. Finello said. "The 'Year of Wellness' is just such a challenge. The rewards will be great and could very well last a lifetime."