Forsythe Spring 2010 Update
PHS activities
All teaching activities have been completed! Thanks to all of our wonderful Health Ambassadors at Forsythe who faithfully taught our PHS lessons even when their schedules changed with the new semester. We appreciate your efforts and your willingness to motivate the 6th grade students to enjoy healthier lives! Highlights this year were the ever popular fruit and vegetable salsa lesson, made with peaches and cherries from the west side of Michigan! The students also love the last two lessons, Activity Bingo and Who Wants to be a Millionaire. The Millionaire game awards students with a fruit and/or vegetable tattoo and a fresh Clementine or 100 calorie snack pack. The students loved the fruit and prove that a fun party doesn’t need pizza and pop!
Forsythe is awarded with an educational foundation grant
With the help of the PHS staff, teacher Mrs. Karen Meyer applied for an educational foundation grant and received $750 to purchase a PHS prop suitcase to be stored in the library and used by all staff and students throughout the year. This will greatly expand the reach of PHS and teachers can ‘check out’ the props as needed. Thanks Karen for your efforts!
Forsythe wins 3rd place in the Michigan action for healthy kids recognition program
On Thursday April 29, assistant principal Chris Johnson and 6th grade counselor Pat Carson will accept the recognition award at a breakfast in Dearborn! Congratulations to the staff and students at Forsythe who continually strive to make the school environment healthy for all! Forsythe now has a Wellness Team, started by two staff members, Kelli Bert and Micael Eiler, with the help of Susan Aaronson from PHS. The first mission of the Wellness Team is to plan an end of the year fun walk/run that will hopefully become an annual event.
Research screening complete
In late March, about 60 Forsythe 6th grade students completed their heart healthy screening. This was the second screening of the 2009/2010 school year and students completed 4 stations including a cholesterol screening, blood pressure check, height and weight and a 3 minute step test. While students rotated through the stations, they also completed a brief health habit survey. Thanks to all of the wonderful 6th graders who participated. As always, results are confidential and will be mailed home to parents at the end of June.
Did you know that Ann Arbor is on the cutting edge of the Farm to School movement? Three years ago a collaboration that includes AAPS, Chartwells, FSEP, The Agrarian Adventure, The Farmers Market, Washtenaw County Health Department and Project Healthy Schools began meeting to determine if a Farm to School program was feasible. In the first year, the collaboration began serving one local produce item each month in the fall and spring. During the second year of the program, a local produce item was added weekly. The third year expaded to twice weekly and starting in the fall of 2010, the local produce will be added to the menu for ALL students to sample three times per week!! This amazing feat has allowed thousands of students to sample brussel sprouts, squash, blueberries, asparagus, peppers and many more items! Farm Fresh Feature items will be available again this spring in May! The National Farm to Cafeteria conference is coming to Detroit in May and many members of the collaboration are involved in planning or attending the event. Did you know that ALL of the elementary schools are equipped with fresh produce vending carts? Students, regardless of purchasing or packing their lunch, are allowed to sample the produce items.
Forsythe 2009/2010 Fall Updates:
The Farm Fresh Feature this year expanded to include all Wednesdays and Fridays in September and October. Students and staff enjoyed free samples of yellow watermelon, crisp and spicy radishes, collard greens, muskmelon, cucumbers, cauliflower, green beans, baked potatoes and squash. This has been a wonderful opportunity to promote our locally grown produce and encourage students to expand their horizons. Staff members at Forsythe anticipated the arrival of fresh produce as much as the students. Now that the cold weather is upon us, we will end October with a baked potato bar and winter squash. Look for occasional local produce to be included in the school menus throughout the winter months.
We are working diligently on re-establishing a school Wellness Team at Forsythe. The idea is being presented at the Staff meeting on October 28 and we hope to have interested staff members lead the way. We are looking forward to parent support, so if you are looking for a committee, please come join us!
Our University Health Ambassadors will be teaching Project Healthy Schools on Mondays and Thursdays starting the week of November 9. Students will once again be involved in making fresh fruit/vegetable salsa, analyzing the cafeteria menu and learning why it is important to increase their heart rate while exercising. PHS lessons are new and improved and we are sure that the students will love the new versions.
Important Fall Dates:
October 27: 6th grade Project Healthy Schools screening
October 29: Project Healthy Schools kick-off
November 9: Project Healthy Schools activities begin
June, 2009
Lots happened this spring! Check back in July for more details.
February, 2009
6th grade Advisory activities are complete! All students played Who wants to be a Millionaire during the last activity, testing their knowledge of the Project Healthy School curriculum and winning prizes for their efforts. The last few lessons, completed mostly after the winter holiday break included:
-an activity that demonstrates portion control
-learning the facts about fat both in your diet and arteries. Student determined the quantity of fat in a common fast food meal then scooped out teaspoons of Crisco to demonstrate the quantity of fat consumed! Students are also shown clogged artery models.
-an Advertising activity where students created their own jingles and ads.
-an activity that discusses how most middle schoolers spend their free time. Each student was asked to plot the time spent on sleep, school, exercise, screen time and other assorted activities.
Alternative PE Activities
PHS staff will teach two alternative PE classes for all 6th graders in March and April. Students will be run through a “middle school boot camp” challenging their bodies to exercise for 20 minutes. Students love the “boot camp” routine and certainly work up a sweat!
Polar Heart Rate Monitors
Kelli Bert, Forsythe’s PE teacher is testing our new set of 25 Polar heart rate monitors in her PE classes. We are anxious to hear how about the equipment and its potential use in a broader setting.
PTSO
Susan Aaronson, your PHS Wellness Coordinator at Forsythe attended the February PTSO meeting. Great ideas were shared and she looks forward to working with the PTSO on future events including:
-fundraisers
-a possible end of the year 5K or field day
-healthier options for fun nights
-staff wellness issues
-integrating more exercise into the advisories
January, 2009
What is happening in 2008-2009 at Forsythe?
PHS welcomed back many eighth grade parents and students at this year's registration at Forsythe. Parents were signing the extended consent to allow their children to continue in the Heart Healthy screenings. Current eighth graders, class of 2013, will have the distinct honor of being part of the PHS research throughout high school. Screenings will occur in the spring (at school) and only take about 15-20 minutes. We look forward to hearing back from all of our participating students. Remember to mail your consent in the enclosed envelope or contact Susan Aaronson, susaaaro@umich.edu, if you need another form.
We heard many positive comments from parents! Parents stated that their children are making healthier fast food choices, exercising more and choosing healthier beverages! Way to go Forsythe!
Did you know that last year, 2007-2008, Forsythe received a first place Michigan Healthy School Environment Award? Jackie Stouppe, Pat Carson and Dr. Schwamb attended the award ceremony in Traverse City to accept their banner and plaque. Let’s keep up the great work this year at Forsythe.
Once again ALL sixth graders will participate in Project Healthy Schools. Our 10 new and improved activities will be taught in the sixth grade advisory class this fall. Last year, our program was successful, in part due to the support from parents and University students who taught the activities. We will be looking forward to a new crop of parents and students to assist in teaching again this year! This is a fantastic opportunity to volunteer at school and sample middle school life!
Farm Fresh Friday is back! So far, we have already featured fresh watermelon – picked Thursday, served Friday – from Horkey Brothers farm in Dundee and peaches from Greg Orchards in Benton Harbor. Free samples are available for all students, and the items are also placed on the lunch line for students who are purchasing their lunch to try. Encourage you children to taste this delicious fresh and local produce. Visit the AAPS Web site’s home page and click on the link with the watermelon for more information.
Would you like to be a Wellness Champion at Forsythe? We are looking for parent(s) who will help with wellness initiatives, Farm Fresh Fridays and healthy fundraisers. Once again, contact Susan for more information!
