West Middle School

What Happened at West Middle School during 2007/2008?

Focus on Healthy Eating and Increasing Activity

• West Middle School was awarded a third place MI Healthy School Environment Award after the application was submitted by teacher, Amelia Skwiers
• All 6th graders participated in 10 hands-on activities  that reinforced Project Healthy Schools’ (PHS)  5 goals:
• Eat more fruits and vegetables
• Make better beverage choices
• Include at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week
• Eat less fast and fatty foods
• Spend less time in front of the TV and computer

Making salsa was probably the most popular activity.  Look for the recipe below!

• Over three weeks 6th graders tracked their lunch-time fruit/veggie consumption; beverage choices and after-school activity minutes.  Students with the highest point totals received prizes.  Ms (Beitner) Miller’s5th hour class won the classroom competition and chose to celebrate with a Smoothie sampling party.  The PHS trophy stayed in their room the rest of the year.
• At the kick-off assembly EMU athletes challenged students to develop healthier activity and eating patterns. 

Focusing on Activity

• All students at West Middle School participated in All Children Exercising Simultaneously (ACES) day by walking to Shadford Field and then circling the track several time.  Motivational music boomed and lots of students had smiles on their faces as they walked.  Teachers, support staff and administrators joined in.
• In June, 6th graders participated in ReCharge, an NFL sponsored program that encourages more physical activity and healthy eating habits through football related activities.  Students visited a several stations and worked on different drills and patterns.
• During one get-moving activity students watch and then try flexibility and stretching moves based on yoga and Pilates.  At the second event students used stretchy bands and loops, medicine balls and balance balls to try strength training activities.

Focusing on the Heart Healthy Screening and Questionnaire

• 57 students (those with a signed consent form) completed a fall and spring screening and completed a questionnaire about their activity and food behaviors
• Parents receive results letters in the mail
• Data is currently being analyzed but will be shared when it is available

Focusing on West’s school environment

• The Healthy School Action Tool, which evaluates how healthy the school is, was completed by the newly formed school wellness team
• The group decided next year’s focus would be on increasing awareness and implementation of the district’s wellness plan
• Colorful bulletin board on the way to the lunch room emphasized the PHS goals
• School newsletters articles informed parents about PHS activities as did email messages and progress report inserts.
• Parents were informed of free, health-related community events via email.

A Special Thanks to:

• Amelia Skwiers, the health teacher for being my primary contact at West.  She answered many questions, was invaluable in coordinating events and goes out of her way every day to make sure West’s students are leading healthy lifestyles.
• Marti (Beitner) Miller and Margaret Mayol for including PHS activities in their 6th grade science classes.  Their enthusiasm and support of the healthy lifestyles message probably influenced their students as much as the activities.
• Monica Merritt, the principal, for her support and buy-in to the PHS goals and activities.  This support makes the program a priority and it moves forward!

Submitted by Cathy Fitzgerald, West PHS Wellness Coordinator, 734-975-3060, cifitz@umich.edu

Sixth Graders Get Involved with Project Healthy Schools

Salsa is a Hit !  

Mid-January all 6th graders during Study Skills class helped prepare and sample a yummy fruit and veggie salsa. It was their weekly  PROJECT HEALTHY SCHOOLS activity! Make it with your 6th grader.  Make this at your house. 

Colorful Salsa

Wash hands.  Rinse and rub fruits and vegetables under running water to clean.  Then slice and chop fruits and vegetables into small pieces on a cutting board.  Kids can cut and slice with plastic knives and combine all the fruits and veggies in a bowl.  Squeeze each lime section over  the fruits and veggies.  Kids can combine the cilantro and parsley with the oil.  Pour the oil mixture over the fruits and vegetables.   Serve in small bowls or as a dip with crackers or chips.

Fruits and Vegetables are Great! 

For more fruit and veggie information:

• Harvest of the Month
  
• Fruits and Veggies More Mattters

Congratulations Fitness and Food Tracker Winners
Students tracked their healthy habits over three weeks.  The first week they wrote down how many minutes of physical activity they got outside of school.  The next week was for recording fruits and vegetables eaten at lunch, Monday to Friday.  The last week students recorded the beverages they chose at lunch.  Points were added up for each student and science class. See the tracking form

CLASS with MOST POINTS: Ms Beitner’s 7th hour science clss.  The trophy is in their room now. The class celebrated with a smoothie party featuring different flavors and colors of fruit.

INDIVIDUAL PRIZE WINNERS:  Congratulations to all the students who accumulated 250 Tracker points or more.  They were entered in the drawing for an Ipod shuffle, a $20 and $10 Borders gift card,  UM pedometers and Project Healthy Schools frisbies.  Prize winners were announced at lunch time.   Hopefully, each student is including more fruits and veggies every day and choosing low or no fat milk, water or 100% juice with their meals and snacks.

Upcoming Activities

• Watch It, Try It events. One focuses on strength training using bands, balls and loops. The other is about flexibility and stretching using basic yoga positions and Pilates moves.
  
• SuperSize Me clips and discussion with Ms Burress
  
• Heart Healthy Screening (just for those who took part in the fall)
  

Completed Activities

• Project Healthy Schools Kick-off in November
• Heart-healthy screening (with parental permission)
• 10 interactive activities were led by Ms Mayol and Ms Beitner
  

Questions about Project Healthy Schools?  Contact Cathy Fitzgerald, MA, RD;
Project Healthy Schools Wellness Coordinator, 734/975-3060 or cfitz@umich.edu