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Dobbins Elementary hosts health and wellness event
By Bruce Walton
Poland
Children at Dobbins Elementary gathered in the center of David Pavlansky Field on Friday morning as Poland High School alumnus and Kent State University senior quarterback Colin Reardon read to them the book “Oh the Things You Can Do that are Good for You!”
The reading was part of the DAWG Day event. At the end of the book, Dobbins Principal Mike Daley told kids to remember what they learn so that they could one day be just like Reardon. The alumnus said it was great to be back at his alma mater, and he was happy to be shown as an example to follow toward fitness.
“It’s nice that people in the community still kind of look up to me, and that’s all I’ve wanted is to be a role model to younger kids,” Reardon said.
The event, lead by members of the school wellness committee – school nurse Cathy Fedor, food-service director Barb Walko and parent coordinator Tammy Todd – teaches kids how to be a good “DAWG” through the actions to Do, Act, Wonder and Grow.
The children were divided into their classes and led by station leaders to 12 wellness stations spread evenly across the field, each one focusing on a different topic of wellness and health education.
School district volunteers as well as about 50 Poland High School juniors and seniors helped to run the event. This is the fifth annual health and wellness event hosted by the wellness committee, seeking a healthier lifestyle for the children in school and in the future.
“We’re fortunate in our district. We have a very strong parent involvement, which is excellent. But knowledge is really the key,” Todd said. “The more we focus on wellness in our school district, the end result will be on a positive note long-term of really affecting these kids at a young age and moving forward.”
Stations included the hydration station that taught kids about what’s best to drink to prevent dehydration in the summer heat; and a sun-safety station to educate them on the harmful ultraviolet rays that could damage their skin and ways to prevent skin cancer. In addition to the wellness stations, the event had four remaining stations for kids to play in physical activities, including a running relay, fitness tic-tac-toe, cup-stacking and body-weight exercise stations.