Fourth and fifth grade students practiced mindfulness, explored different yoga poses, learned how to make healthy food choices and competed in relay races during Main Street School’s Health and Wellness Fair on April 24.
“The event raised awareness about the importance of physical activity, health and wellness by engaging students in a variety of health-related workshops,” Principal Joyce Chapnick said. “In order to be a global citizen, one must first take care of his or her own health and wellness before helping others.”
Throughout the day, each student participated in three, 35-minute workshops of their choice and learned from guest speakers and health experts in four categories, including physical fitness, mental health, medical health and healthy eating. In addition, the students attended the Exhibit Hall in the auditorium, where they heard from vendors and organizations from the different category areas and enjoyed healthy snacks.
During the mindfulness workshop, the students learned different strategies to help them when they’re feeling upset, overwhelmed, disappointed, frustrated or unfocused. In other workshops, they learned about the role that teeth play in their overall health, as well as how the eye works and why the health of their eyes is important. They also practiced different exercises from bending to squatting, pushing and pulling, and learned how to decode ingredients and choose foods that are high in nutritional value.
Twenty-one members of the fifth-grade leadership team were instrumental in introducing their peers to the event, as well as creating posters and planning and organizing the event. The students said that as global citizens, it is their responsibility to educate others and help them lead a healthy lifestyle.
All students received a goodie bag to store their giveaways and information they received in each session.
“We would like to thank all of our session presenters and exhibitors in the Exhibit Hall,” Chapnick said. “It was wonderful to have so many parents join us for the Exhibit Hall. Additionally, we thank the members of the fifth grade Health and Wellness Fair leadership team and PAC. They went above and beyond to help make the event a great success.”
Session presenters included Jim Buckley, Melinda Chappelear, Liz Brackis Cott, Edge Martial Arts, Lisa Edo, Suzie Fromer, Dr. Delaney Gracy, Meg Granfors, T.J. Hair, Alissa Kane, Dr. Paul Kenny, Dr. Kavitha Kohli, Dr. Kimberly Mosca, Dr. Scott Mosenthal, Laurie Racanelli, Michelle Reilly-MacKessy, Dr. Stacey Rosenkranz, Dr. Anna Ross, Andrea Sarayli, Selene Smerling, Meg Tubman, Allison Waguespeck, Shari Wels and Amy Ziff. Exhibitors included the American Heart Association, Aramark, Edge Martial Arts, Green Market, Health & Hygiene, Rivertowns Pediatric Dentistry, Stop & Shop, The Rewilding School, Westchester Department of Health and YogaWorks.
Members of the fifth-grade leadership team include Demitra Anemodouras, Maddy Barth, Leah Brandstaedter, Kate Campbell, Jack Clinton, Isabella Ding, Anna Dorokhova, Sarah Fanfarillo, Jelena Herceg, Daisy Hodges, Bridget Kelly, Ryan Khader, Alyssa Magallon, Sabrina Pasternak, Arjun Patel, Will Raymond, Zaniya Rennalls, Nicholas Vinces, Sara Welter, Julia Welter and Haidan Wiles. Our PAC volunteer was Dympna Kenny.
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