This past weekend, I had an opportunity to head to one of our state parks. It was a great day, and I was really encouraged to see many other people enjoying the outdoors, either with family and friends or just by themselves. This time alone gave me a chance to think and plan for the upcoming 4th Quarter at school. I believe that I owe my students the very best each day, and I especially want their 4th Quarter to be the best!
Healthy Lifestyles
I started thinking about healthier living and building healthy lifestyles in the lives of our students and families. I thought about not only the physical health, but also the spiritual health of our families as we move into the spring and summer months. I came up with a simple plan that I wanted to share with our faculty, staff, students and families that would seek to promote healthy living practices in their daily lives.
I thought about promoting Health and Fitness in the month of April – with a natural segue into our Eagle Fit program that culminates in the beginning of May.
I thought of the acronym – AHA = Active Healthy April.
Possible Components of Proposal
- Healthy and directed activities in PE classes, recess, and our Aftercare program.
- Promote healthy lunches, snacks, and drinks.
- Consider turning the pop machine and snack machine off during school hours.
- Emphasize “active” lessons. Determine practical ways and applications to have kinesthetic type of lesson plans.
- Have goals of having Prayer Walks with our classes.
- Promote spiritual health with directed morning devotions and prayer time. I would like our student body to read through Psalm 119 and pray for 3 specific prayer items each day.
- Have designated exercise times after school for staff, students, families, etc..
- Encourage families to walk, bike, and exercise together.
- Encourage students, staff, and families to limit or stop all TV, video, computer games/social media in exchange for reading, spending time together with family, etc.
- Encourage students, families, and staff to limit or stop all pop or coffee in exchange for water or healthy juices.
- Encourage parents to pray with their kids each day and spend time in conversation.
Growing Healthy Together
Obviously, we have folks at various stages of each of these situations and activities, and we would ask that families discuss these opportunities and incorporate what they believe is the best plan for their families. The AHA month is just an opportunity to provide healthy information and nutritional alternatives for our students and staff.
We are looking forward to initiating this program next month! I’m sure that we will learn some things along the way, but I think that it has the possibility of being a very rewarding and fun way to grow as a school! I’m looking forward to hearing how families used some of these experiences to grow closer together as well as grow in their walk with the Lord!
