By DAN ISRAELI
The wellness programs at both H. Frank Carey and Elmont Memorial High School have made great strides this year by promoting healthy eating in the cafeteria and integrating wellness into the curriculum.
Due to the federal "Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004," which made it mandatory for school systems to establish wellness policies, the Sewanhaka school district created a wellness committee, chaired by the assistant superintendent for finance and operations. The committee's makeup encompasses every member of the school community, including administration, the board of education, faculty, PTA and the students themselves.
Maureen Kenney, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, is serving her first year as committee chair. At the March 25 school board meeting, Kenney led a presentation on the progress of the programs this school year, including different committee members from every school in the district. "We made sure we had every building, and every group of interest represented," Kenney said. "That way we have everyone's input, especially the students. Their input is so essential."
At Elmont, students and faculty took part in their annual wellness week, which began on March 24, with a number of activities and presentations. Suzanne Capolino, a school social worker and wellness committee member, said that Elmont Memorial had several guests from outside agencies speak to students on topics ranging from proper nutrition to substance abuse to sexually transmitted diseases.
The school also held a health fair with Molloy College nursing students on March 27 and 28, where they addressed a range of issues including suicide risk, smoking, teen drinking and driving, pregnancy prevention and eating disorders. On May 24, the school will hold a Wellness Walk to promote health and exercise, according to Capolino, which will include "health themed" raffle prizes and information tables from outside agencies.
Carey Assistant Principal Lorraine Wright, also on the committee, discussed a number of programs going on at the school throughout the whole year. "It's a compilation of things," she said. "It's better to have it throughout the year in various departments." Along with integrating wellness information into the curriculum, the school has also been holding physical fitness tests on endurance and agility, and even hosted a registered pharmacist to speak with 9th and 10th grade students on the dangers of steroids .
"It was right at the time the Mitchell Report came out," Wright said, referring to former Sen. George Mitchell's investigative account on steroids in Major League Baseball. "It went well, and was very timely and important for the students."
To show that Carey is also looking out for the well-being of its staff, the school is holding its own "Biggest Loser" competition, similar to the popular TV show. 17 teams of faculty members have between January and the end of April to shed the most weight, in what Wright called a friendly competition. So far 71 teachers lost over 630 lbs combined, and have also donated money that will go towards the faculty's scholarship fund.
The schools have also been trying to eliminate unhealthy food options, not only from cafeterias, but from student functions like fundraisers. "We are addressing areas of challenge," said Carol Parker-Duncanson, Elmont school board and wellness committee member. "One of our biggest challenges is fundraisers. We want students to hold successful events without having to sell unhealthy foods. They need to have alternatives." Parker-Duncanson is a career nutritionist at Cornell University's Cooperative Extension on Manhattan.
Wright added that the district has been "incorporating healthy food options while eliminating empty calorie junk food," aided by its breakfast program, which was provided free to students during National Breakfast Week in early March.
Parker-Duncanson isn't the only Elmont board trustee with a career related to wellness. Elys Mecklembourg-Guibert, vice president of the Elmont board, is a public health specialist and founder of EMG Health Communications. As a specialist in family health, Mecklembourg-Guibert acknowledges the positive effect a wellness program can have on students. "We need to prevent the things that could be disruptive," she said. "Bad health can negatively affect grades and can lead to social pressures, like violence and drugs."
While committee members said they are determined to keep wellness programs running all year long, Parker-Duncanson said she has been pleased with the district's progress so far. "I do this on a national level, and I never thought I would see it in my own community," she said. "I am feeling such pride and joy in a wellness committee that actually works. We have the right people that will make things happen."
