43
Family Health Night at Poland High School
Photo
Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Pictured, from left, are mascots Sparky from the Phantoms, Slider from the Cleveland Indians, Scrappy from the Scrappers, Pirate the Parrot from The Pittsburgh Pirates and Pete and Penny Penguin from Youngstown State University. These mascots were part of the wellness event hosted at Poland Seminary High School on March 21.
Photo
Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Tammy (back left) and Andrew (front) Todd came to Family Health Night on March 31 at Poland Seminary High School where they met Scrappy and various other mascots to kickoff the event.
Photo
Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Volunteers, from left, Karlee Cline, Cara Armstrong, Jordan Watt and Sara Esmail served healthy pizza at Poland Seminary High School on March 31.
Photo
Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.The main contributors to this kickoff event of an evening dedicated to wellness were Tammy Todd (left) and Cathy Fedor (right).
Photo
Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Master Tom Ritchie taught students self defense as one of the activities during Family Health Night.
By amanda tonoli
On March 31, first-grade students went to Poland Seminary High School for Family Health Night. During this event Tammy Todd, treasurer of Dobbins Elementary School’s Parent-Teacher Organization, and Cathy Fedor, Poland’s school nurse, put together an educational and fun program for first-grade students and their families.
Principal Stephanie Mateja said this night was part of some of the initiatives parents and faculty of the Wellness Committee put together in concerns to a better well-being.
Todd said as a certified nurse practitioner she sees a lot of residual health outcomes in children, good and bad.
“That’s why I have such a strong desire in focusing on wellness in children,” Todd said. “Not only on a nutritional level but also on the social and psychological impact that children are dealing with on a daily basis.”
This collaborative effort among all four Poland elementary schools — Dobbins, North, Union and McKinley — brought together all first-graders within them, bringing fun to the event, as well as education.
Principal Michael Massucci got mascots from all over to come for entertainment for the students. In attendance were Pete and Penny Penguin from Youngstown State University, Slider from the Cleveland Indiands, Sparky from the Phantoms and Pirate the Parrot from The Pittsburgh Pirates. Master Tom Ritchie from the Poland Martial Arts Center was also invited to come be apart of wellness night.
Provided in the cafeteria was healthy pizza, served by nursing students from the area.
“Our goals with the wellness committee are to bring everyone together,” Todd said. “Studies have found that when parents are involved in the health decisions and teaching the children about health it makes an integral change in the child’s life and positive outcomes occur.”
Todd and Fedor both said they are excited to continue this initiative, hopefully extending it to eventually more grades within the schools.
“It’s important long-term to develop a strong foundation for building a healthier community, healthier children,” Todd said.
During the events children rotated stations and went from learning martial arts from Master Ritchie to taking pictures with the various mascots present.