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Mostly Cloudy Barnum Woods students learn a healthy lesson at fair
East Meadow school event promotes fitness, science, well-being
Though a helicopter sat in the Barnum Woods ballfields on May 21, students appeared to have just as much fun indoors.
The East Meadow elementary school was hosting its sixth annual Health Fair. The event, coordinated by Assistant Principal Gail Gallucci and teacher Susan Pepper, offers students an array of programs and workshops aimed at promoting health, fitness and science.
Local businesses and medical providers participated and supported the event, including residents and students from the Nassau University Medical Center. Even some former students and children of staff members helped out.
"It's really nice to have a partnership with the community and it's nice to reach out to families with their kids coming back," Gallucci said.
Each class followed a special schedule that had students going from station to station throughout the day. At one site, local chiropractors held workshops that promoted good health.
They discussed the “importance of good posture, how to stay healthy, good exercise and standing tall," said Dr. Joan Litt, an East Meadow resident with a chiropractic office in North Merrick.
Dr. Janine Kelly, chairwoman of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, also offered her chiropractic expertise to students. Like Litt, she taught students how proper posture promotes good health. "It's never too young to start chiropractic," she said.
In the gymnasium, a hip-hop dance class was hosted by Cristina and Diana DiCocco, the daughters of teacher Ellena DiCocco. Students learned how to stay fit while dancing to their favorite hits. In the cafeteria, the children also enjoyed and learned from young students performing traditional Irish dances.
Beyond balancing exercises and physical activities, there were plenty of in-classroom learning activities for the students. Instructed by NUMC residents and medical students, kids participated in a variety of interactive lessons on topics including the brain, the heart, the digestive system and the lungs.
