Saturday 5 May 2012

Atlanta Schools Promoting Well Minds & Bodies

Atlanta Schools' "Wellness" Workshops Promote Nutrition and Physical EducationWhen Atlanta Schools opened at the end of August, an unique project was initiated. The "Wellness" Workshop Project kicked off the college year with a workshop that included Olympic gold medalist Gail Devers, author Yvonne Butler, 300 students from the Atlanta College District, faculty members, and community leaders. high school physics ever Atlanta Schools' "wellness" workshop. atlanta schools' margaret Fain Elementary School's Wings of Eagles dance troupe performed to illustrate how many physical life is used in dance. The first "Wellness" Workshop was co-chaired by Dr.



Marilyn Hughes, the director of nutrition administration for Atlanta Schools, and Billette Owens-Ashford, Atlanta Schools' director of physical teaching and athletics. The goal regarding the "Wellness" Workshop Project is improve the well-being regarding the students by identifying health-related problems. It was proven that well-being related issues can many times hold a direct affect on a student's academic achievement. The inaugural "Wellness" Workshop for the Atlanta Schools had an alternate categories of speakers and displays that provided resources on nutritional based things and physical teaching activities. The keynote speaker was Dr.



Butler is a noted author whose book, "Healthy Kids, Smart Kids," discusses the impact of diet and exercise on learning and academic performance. Other speakers included Olympic track-and-field gold medalist Gail Severs who spoke about importance of exercise to well-being and how to wait physically fit. Atlanta Schools' "Wellness" Workshop Project is component of a broad program that aims to give most fitness and nutrition strategies for students and staff in all Atlanta Schools. Innovative strategies that should be used with yoga classes for teachers and students, vegetarian cafeteria lines, and walking trails. The overall plan was developed by the Atlanta Schools' Board of Education.



The Board of Teaching shall release guidelines on how to implement the program and how the schools should be evaluated. A primary component regarding the plan is establishing wellness councils. These councils should be comprised of teachers, parents, administrators, students, and community and business partners. The council shall assist Atlanta Schools in integrating nutrition and physical teaching into the current curriculum. The wellness council shall also hold a presence at events throughout the Atlanta Schools.



Recently, Atlanta Schools' wellness plan received a boost from the involvement of an Atlanta Schools' parent. Linton Hopkins has 3 children attending E. Rivers Elementary School. Hopkins is concerned regarding the nutritional price of cafeteria offerings at the E. Rivers Elementary College but unlike other parents, Hopkins is the executive chef of Atlanta's Take aways Eugene and winner of this year's Atlanta "Iron Chef" competition.



Hopkins has joined the Regional College Wellness Council to help evaluate the school's cafeteria. Hopkins isn't the only trained chef to join the E. Rivers Elementary School's wellness council. Elisa Gambino, owner of pasta emporium Via Elisa, has along with eleven other parents joined the wellness council. Parental involvement is an important element to the success regarding the wellness councils.



Currently, approximately 90 percent of Atlanta Schools' elementary and 65 percent of high schools have parents actively involved together with the wellness council of their school.

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