Post Tagged with: "Healthy Children"

AtlantiCare Heart Institute Donates Automated External Defibrillator to ACS

ACS recently received an Automated External Defibrillator from the AtlantiCare Heart Institute, which was presented to school nurse Carrie Jorgenson on March 28. The donation was made possible through a grant from the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program.

Presenting the AED to Jorgenson were L.J. Wehner, Director of AtlantiCare’s Heart and Lung Institute, and Jessica Whittle, a school health specialist with AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children. The donated AED is a Cardiac Science Powerheart G5 and also came with a portable carrying case.

Jorgenson said the AED will be located on the second floor of the main school building, where it will be accessible for use by Upper School students, faculty, and staff.

“A new AED can cost upwards of $2,000 and is now even difficult to purchase due to supply chain issues,” Jorgenson said.  “We are very grateful to AtlantiCare for donating this life-saving device.” Jorgenson said the easy-to-follow instructions on the unit make it possible for anyone to use in the event of an emergency.

 

Students Sample Healthy Smoothies for Green Mustache Day, Get Surprise Visit from Cat in the Hat

Over 250 students from the 1st to 5th grades showed off their green mustaches on Thursday, March 2 after sampling healthy smoothies during lunch made with fruit and spinach. It was all part of “Green Mustache Day,” a fun annual activity that ACS sponsors as part of its membership in the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program.

Green Mustache Day also coincided with Read Across America Day that celebrates Dr. Seuss’ birthday, which meant many students were dressed up like the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1, 2, and 3, or other characters from Dr. Seuss books. 12th grader Evan Power, who has held leading roles in several ACS musicals, paid a surprise visit to the lunchroom dressed up as the Cat in the Hat and posed for photos with the students.

After they sampled the smoothies, groups of students made green mustaches on their upper lips with the drink and posed for photos. Students who sampled the smoothies received a green paper mustache as a fun reward. A number of faculty and staff also sampled the smoothies and posed for photos.

A staff panel has selected three group photos to submit to an AtlantiCare contest. One of the photos could be selected to receive a $50 VISA card, which will go to the classroom of the students in the photo. The photos in the running are from Mrs. Huff’s 3C class, Mrs. Jackson’s 4B class, Mr. Tardif’s 4C class, and Ms. Williams’ 5B class.

For families who would like to try making this healthy smoothie at home, here’s the recipe that makes 32 ounces:

Healthy Green Smoothie Recipe

2 ripe frozen bananas
1 apple, chopped
2 cups fresh chopped spinach (can also use kale)
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup cold water

The first 3 photos below are being entered into the AtlantiCare contest:

 

 

 

 

4th Graders Sample Healthy Quinoa Cabbage Salad at AtlantiCare Cooking Demo

Our 4th grade students were treated to an in-person cooking demo on Tuesday, December 13 by Chef Shara Gadomsky of the Happy Heart Corner, who prepared a healthy quinoa cabbage salad for the students to sample as she encouraged them to eat nutritious foods and to not be afraid to try something new. Throughout the demo, Chef Shara interacted with the students, including having them use their math skills to help her measure the ingredients for the salad dressing. The demo was sponsored by the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program, of which ACS is a participating member school.

Jessica Whittle of AtlantiCare, accompanied by Angela Dennis, spoke to the students about how fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are part of a healthy diet. Quinoa is an ancient, gluten-free grain thatis a protein and originated with the Incas in the mountains of Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.  The presentation also tied in with sciences lessons in Mrs. Jackson’s and Mr. Tardif’s classes, who are teaching their students about making healthy food choices.

The students enjoyed sampling the salad and some even went back for seconds. They were also excited to receive a special gift of a measuring cup and measuring spoons from AtlantiCare as well as a recipe card for the Quinoa Cabbage Salad.

CLICK HERE for the recipe of the Quinoa Cabbage Salad.

 

AtlantiCare Selects 5th Grader Gaebriel Hahn-Chaney as a Winner in Green Mustache Photo Contest

A photo featuring ACS 5th grader Gaebriel Hahn-Chaney sporting a thick green mustache after sampling a healthy fruit and spinach smoothie during lunch in early May was recently selected as a winner in the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children “Green Mustache Day” photo contest. Gaebriel received an award certificate from AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children and a $50 VISA card to be used by his teacher, Ms. Lorick, to support a health and wellness activity for his class.

Gaebriel was presented with his certificate and gift card during class on March 25, after his win was shared with the student body during Morning Announcements.  In the winning photo (pictured below left), Gaebriel posed with two other classmates, Chase Hagel and Gabriel Hudec, and all three also received sporty blue water pouches from AtlantiCare.

Students from the 1st to 6th grades sampled healthy green smoothies as part of “Green Mustache Day” on March 2 and posed for photos taken by ACS staff. Three of the best photos featuring nine students showing off their green mustaches were submitted to the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools Program to be entered into the photo contest.

 

 

Three New Water Bottle Filling Stations Purchased with Donations, Installed to Benefit ACS Students, Staff

Students from elementary to high school are lining up to fill their water bottles with healthy, refreshing filtered water from three new water bottle filling stations that were recently installed on the first and second floors of the main school building. The purchase of the new filling stations was made possible by a grant from the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program combined with a gift from an anonymous donor.

ACS facilities staff member Bill Smallwood finished installing the filling stations on January 25, which also have a regular water fountain in the front.  One filling station is located near the elementary bathrooms and the rear bus entrance of the school building. The 4th graders pictured above filling up their water bottles during lunch are, from left, Isabelle Kiefer, Joey Kinch, and Brennan Meyer. On the second floor, 7th graders Kalee Tardif (left) and Zion Dawkins (right) used the filling station near the Music Room, (pictured below right), while 11th graders Cruz Lewis, left, and Jake DeNick, right, filled up at the new station near the high school stairwell (pictured below left).

“We are very grateful for the support from AtlantiCare and a generous donor that made the purchase of these filling stations possible,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “We now have water filling stations at every location in the school building, replacing all of our basic water fountains. We know this helps provide a healthy learning environment for our students and staff.”  Oblen also said studies have shown that water bottle filling stations encourage everyone to drink more water and also have a positive impact on the environment, reducing the usage of disposable plastic water bottles.

ACS installed its first water bottle filling station in the 1st floor Multi-Purpose Room in the spring of 2018. It was purchased with a grant from the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program. That filling station has now been used to fill close to 103,000 water bottles.

AtlantiCare Healthy Schools Program Rewards ACS Students for Walking for Good Health

ACS students have been making a special effort this spring to spend dedicated time walking outdoors for good health. Five elementary classes participated in a 4-week walking challenge in March and April and received prizes for their efforts this week from the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program.

For walking over 400 minutes during the month-long challenge, the students in Mr. Tardif’s 4th grade class and Ms. Williams’ 2nd grade class won the top prize of a blue portable water pouch. Students in Mrs. Capito’s 1st grade class walked some 300 minutes and received pencils.

Students in two other classes — Mrs. Meza’s 2nd grade class and Mrs. Reilly’s kindergarten class — received stickers with encouraging slogans like “Fueled by Fitness” and “Moving and Improving.” Each of the classes also received an AtlantiCare Certificate of Achievement.

Mr. Tardif said his class walked 20-30 minutes each day, mostly in the afternoon, to help boost his students’ energy and creativity. Mrs. Reilly’s spent 10-15 minutes walking with her students each day around the track and the basketball court.  “We really enjoyed going outside and breathing the fresh air and getting some healthy exercise,” said Mrs. Reilly.

The 4-week Walking Challenge was among a number of health and wellness activities that ACS students participated in throughout the school year.  By participating in these activities, ACS earned points that qualified the school to receive a $300 grant in May from the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program.

 

 

Students Sample Healthy Smoothies for Green Mustache Day

Our elementary students showed off their green mustaches on Thursday, March 18, after sampling healthy, delicious green smoothies during lunch. It was all part of “Green Mustache Day,” a fun annual activity that ACS sponsors as part of its membership in the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program.

Photos were taken of the K-5th grade students as they sampled the smoothies at their lunch tables. A staff panel of judges later selected three groups of students for having the best green mustaches. The students received a dress down day pass and a PTF snack pass.

And the winning students sporting the best green mustaches were:

— from Mrs. Vaccaro’s kindergarten class — Olivia Douglass, Alivia Eaves, Addison Figueroa, Annalise Gaffney, and Jayden Warriner;

— from Mrs. Brossman’s first grade class — Sean Connolly, Kane Cummings, Nehemiah Gonzalez, and Cole Manzione;

— from Mrs. Kiefer’s 5th grade class – Billy Winkel;

— from Mrs. Murphy’s 5th grade class – Ethan Brumble, Elijah Polynice, and Matthew Schlundt.

Thank you to the team of volunteers who helped make the smoothies — Anne Block, Doug Pearson, PJ Santos, Heather Shivers, and Steve Thomas.  Here’s the special smoothie recipe, using a blender, that makes 32 ounces of a healthy green smoothie:

2 ripe frozen bananas
1 apple, chopped
2 cups fresh chopped spinach
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup cold water

ACS Students Learn Pickleball in New PE Unit Funded by Donations

ACS middle school and high school students were introduced to the game of Pickleball the week of October 5, thanks to recent donations to the ACS Athletic Department.

Six new, bright yellow pickleball nets, along with racquets, and balls were set up in the gym for game play during various PE classes.  Additional pickleball game sets purchased with grant funds from the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program will be used for elementary PE classes and will be set up outdoors on the new ACS basketball court.

Pickleball is a paddleball sport that combines the elements of badminton, table tennis, and tennis. “The students are having a lot of fun learning this new game, which has become a popular sport that is often seen played adjacent to larger tennis courts,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner. “Pickleball is a faster-paced game and it’s a recreational sport that can be played and enjoyed over your lifetime.”  Hitchner said she is very grateful for the donations and grant funds that made it possible to add a new unit to the ACS PE curriculum.

 

AtlantiCare Awards Grant to Benefit New ACS Greenhouse

ACS has been awarded an $800 grant from the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program to furnish and equip our new school greenhouse, which was erected in the fall of 2018. Student horticulture projects are envisioned to get underway in the greenhouse this spring, including growing seedlings of vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers to plant in the school garden. The grant check was presented to ACS faculty members at an AtlantiCare workshop on Tuesday, January 8. Pictured at the workshop, from left, are high school science teacher Dave Genter, 4th grade teacher Eric Tardif, and 5th grade teacher Bethany Kiefer.

“We are very grateful for the support from AtlantiCare that will help us launch new educational programs in our greenhouse to get our students involved and excited about horticulture,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “Teachers at every grade level are being encouraged to incorporate science projects that will bring their students into the greenhouse for inter-active, hands-on learning.” Oblen said a new horticulture elective class is being offered to high school students this spring and an after-school Garden Club, led by faculty members Tardif and Kiefer, will also be offered for K-8th grade students. Faculty member Genter said they would like to have a composter for the greenhouse and if anyone would like to donate one to please contact the school office.

The new ACS greenhouse is a 20-foot x 20-foot farmer’s hoop-house design that was erected by the scouts in Boy Scout Troop 389 and will provide ample space for multiple classes to conduct  science projects. It is also envisioned that some of the produce grown in the greenhouse and garden, such as lettuce and spinach, will be harvested and used by the school’s middle school and high school cooking classes and perhaps for a salad tasting during school lunch.