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Friday, 21 March 2008 |
By KAY LOUTH
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Tri Stars’ Med-Prep students along with staff from the Joint Township District Memorial Hospital joined forces this week to present a health fair for first through sixth grade students at East and West Elementary schools.
More than 900 elementary students participated in the two-day Jump Rope for Heart event. In addition to helping a charity, participants also received some kudos during the event as well.
“Med-Prep and Joint Township Hospital do booths related to health and fitness and students grades one through six get to enjoy a health fair,” East Elementary Guidance Counselor Karen Lehmkuhl said.
Lehmkuhl praised Med-Prep teacher Janet Nelson and her students for their work on the annual event.
“Her kids are wonderful,” Lehmkuhl said. They do a wonderful job.”
With more than a dozen booths with information about the dangers of smoking and drinking to fire safety, the elementary students got a leg-up on health and safety while giving the Med-Prep students a chance to put what they’ve learned into action. Med-Prep students who are juniors in high school act as tour guides for the event.
“Juniors walk them (elementary students) through and make sure they understand (the topics),” Med-Prep student Katie Kennison said.
Senior Med-Prep students actually decide on the topics for their booths and write the scripts
“They research the type, provide the visual aide, provide an interactive demonstration and give something away,” Nelson said. “The kids leave with something, they all learn something.”
Nelson said the seniors are ready for the challenges of the event, having experienced it last year as juniors. Nelson said they know what to expect when it came to getting ready for the event.
In the classroom setting, Med-Prep students are divided into teams and each team has a student leader called a head nurse — who provides leadership. Each team picks its topic for the health fair and then works on creating the interactive display.
The hospital provided five booths and also provided supplies such as gauze for those who decided to present on first aid topics.
Jump Rope for Heart participants raised $5,197 for the American Heart Association, Physical Education Teacher Sue Grothause said.
“This is the most, even for East,” Grothause said.
Participants were going to do some jump rope events outside Thursday, but wind chill concerns prompted Grothause to postpone the event and wait for a warmer day.
Grothause said the participants will be outside for four hours and move through 30 different jump rope stations. The student will stay at each for two to three minutes and try out different jump rope techniques.
“It’s great for the kids, helps their balance and coordination (and) good for the community,” Grothause said.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 26 March 2008 )
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