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North promotes healthy families
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Kindergartner Tyler Smith fills his plate with an array of fruits at Family Health Night April 15. North Elementary sponsored the night for family and students to promote healthy eating and living.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .North Elementary students and family participated in Family Health Night April 15 to learn about eating healthy and living a healthy lifestyle. This group has just finished making a Pizza Hut pizza the healthy way.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Fourth-grader Paige Kellgren (back) watches as classmate Brianna Stackpole maneuvers through the footwork exercise icky shuffle. Former University of Pittsburgh quarterback Bill Stull coaches on the proper form and technique.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Fourth-grader Dylan Rendes (left), kindergartner Dominic Klase and fourth-grader Ben Walsh hold plants they picked out to take home. The plants were a prize given to students who correctly answered trivia questions pertaining to vegetables and fruits.
By SHAIYLA HAKEEM
Exercise, pizza making and exotic food tasting were all a part of North Elementary’s Family Health Night April 15.
North educated students and families on the importance of a healthy lifestyle through eating right and staying active. The event was broken down in to four stations. Each focused on a different, but pertinent area for healthy living. Groups rotated through the stations every half hour.
“A big thanks to the House of Speed, Pizza Hut, Sirna and Sons, Home Depot and Bonnie Plants.” said principal Mike Masucci.
The first station focused on the importance of staying physically fit. It was conducted by The House of Speed owner Steve Halloran, trainer Josh Pearce and former University of Pittsburgh quarterback Bill Stull. They led participants through various mobility, agility and speed exercises.
At station two, participants were transformed into chefs as they made a pizza, the healthy way. Poland Pizza Hut explained how pizza can be healthy if eaten in moderation.
Including vegetables on their pizza and small portions of meats was also encouraged. After each person made their personal pizza, it was cooked and they were able to enjoy their nutritional creation while on their way to the next station.
Parents and students had their taste buds tantalized at station three. Poland Food Service Directors Barb Dorbish, Charlene Frazier and Jim Battaglia led everyone through a buffet of fruit and vegetables in what was called “Fruit and Vegetable Fear Factor.”
Dates, blood oranges, papaya, star fruit, purple orchids, peppers and pomegranates are just a few of the tasty items that were available. The fruits and vegetables were provided by Sirna and Sons Produce.
Students were quizzed on their fruit, vegetable, gardening and nutritional knowledge during station four. They participated in a trivia game and were enlightened on the benefits of a home garden. Each student was given their own plant, either a fruit or vegetable, to take home for their garden.
Masucci said the night was funded by a $2,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Education and was a success due to everyone that volunteered their time and nutritional knowledge.