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Everybody loves a healthy parade
March 30, 2006 Who ever thought an elementary schooler could get excited about broccoli? At Nathaniel Wood Hull school in the William Floyd district, Suffolk County, 750 of them did, waving banners and parading through the halls to kick off the school's 24/7 Let's Go! healthy lifestyles program. The initiative was developed by New York State United Teachers last year to encourage students to eat right and exercise. "I wanted to do something to get the students really enthused about 24/7 Let's Go!," said physical education teacher Teresa Carrozzo who, with colleague John Romero, organized two parades and headed the school's program. Paraders were encouraged to wear athletic uniforms, exercise clothes or other pro-health clothing. "One student wore a karate outfit, others drew vegetables or the 24/7 logo onto T-shirts or made banners featuring pictures of healthy foods," said Carrozzo, who led the parade wearing 24/7 posterboards and clutching fistfuls of fruits and vegetables. The parades concluded with an assembly in the gymnasium, featuring music by the school band and a pro-healthy-lifestyle rap and speech written by students. "The impact of the parade was beyond my expectations," said Carrozzo, a member of the William Floyd United Teachers. "A month later, kids will still come up to me and tell me how many healthy things they've done that day." Under 24/7 Let's Go!, developed by NYSUT's Health Care Professionals Council, kindergarten through fifth-graders earn stickers for healthy habits. Physical activity earns "action" stickers, while eating wholesome foods like fruits and vegetables garners "happy food" stickers. Students display their daily sticker rewards on a month-long 24/7 Let's Go! chart. For information about 24/7 Let's Go!, contact NYSUT's Media Relations Department at (866) 213-6090, ext. 6313, or e-mail mediarel@nysutmail.org. — Kara E. Smith |
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