43
Students participate in a day of play
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Pictured are Dominic Elia, Matthew Matiste, Cole Fulton, PJ Canter and Stephen Coss stacking cups as part of the DAWG Day for Dobbins Elementary on May 6.
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Dobbins students followed the lead of Poland Seminary High School students on May 6 for DAWG Day.
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Neveah Jones and Kayla Taylor participated in the jump rope relay at Poland Seminary High School on May 6 for DAWG Day.
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.One of the students from Dobbins Elementary School jumped rope during DAWG Day on May 6 at Poland Seminary High School with help from some of the high school students.
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Dobbins students Antonios Efthimious and Chase Stacy played fitness tic tac toe at Poland Seminary High School on May 6 for DAWG Day.
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
Dave Pavlansky Field was the home of the first DAWG Day for Dobbins Elementary School students on May 6. Do Act Wonder Grow (DAWG) Day was designed to help encourage the students at Dobbins to think about the choices they make.
Tammy Todd, a parent volunteer for the wellness committee, and Cathy Fedor, the school nurse, worked together to create this event for the students. The idea started about three years ago when the parents started to discuss areas that the students could be given more education in and school involvement that includes health and wellness. It took about six months of planning to make everything come together.
Food service director Barb Walker was an important person on the planning committee.
“This is our first event that we’ve done outside that involves the entire school of Dobbins,” said Todd.
The morning started out with a guest reader, Colin Reardon, a Poland alumnus and current Kent State University football player. Reardon read the book “Oh The Things You Can Do That Are Good for You!” by Tish Rabe.
There were 12 stations that the Dobbins students could visit, put on by faculty and other volunteers who donated their time and knowledge to the event.
Lauren Mechling, the elementary school guidance counselor, led a relaxation station for the students to learn relaxation techniques, Officer Steve Kent taught students a lesson on bike safety and people from the community outreach program at Akron Children’s Hospital hosted three stations.
“We tried to gear it toward coming up for summer and health in general,” said Fedor.
Around 50 Poland Seminary High School students volunteered time out of their day to help the Dobbins students with their outdoor activities. The students served as mentors for the younger students to show the importance of health and wellness. This event was an opportunity to incorporate students from all ages in the Poland school district.
After the students visited their stations, the students headed back to Dobbins for a picnic-style lunch. The Food Wheel of Fortune was taken to each table for the students to spin and sample new and healthy foods.
“It’s just a fun day for everyone to learn different aspects of health and wellness. Get them outside, get them more active,” said Todd.