Well, Oh Wellness!
New Canaan Public Schools embrace innovative approach to students' health.
Yoga is being incorporated into New Canaan's lower and upper schools gym classes to help students learn how to stretch their body safely, to develop muscle strength AND flexibility.
Rosann Levy
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Photos
Last spring, in recognition of the role fitness plays in preparing students for success as learners and active community members, the Board of Education established a district-wide Wellness Policy.
The policy addresses nutrition and physical activity and the lifelong impact of childhood exercise and nutrition.
"We made this commitment because experts and experience tell us that sound nutrition and physical fitness are important factors connected to readiness for learning and other school and life activities," Deputy Superintendent and Wellness Committee Co-Chair Dr. Mary Kolek told About Town.
Jay Egan, NCHS athletic director and Wellness Committee member agrees it is key to have parents involved.
"We have been looking for a way to share the Connecticut Fitness Assessment Program data of the students with our families," he said.
In an effort to educate parents and students, "Fitnessgrams" will be sent home next month to families of students in grades four, six eight and ten. The Fitnessgram reports the child's level of fitness, measured in four areas; aerobic capacity, flexibility, muscular strength and muscular endurance.
Not all children will become elite athletes, but every child will reap the benefits of a physically active lifestyle.
"While we think a child might be fit from playing a team sport such as football, lacrosse or soccer," Egan said, "it may not be an indication of their overall fitness."
School gym classes two to three times a week are not expected to fulfill daily fitness requirements but are becoming more innovative.
South School elementary students are learning the basics of yoga in their gym classes.
New Canaan High School lacrosse coach and physical education teacher, Kristin Wood teaches yoga and pilates as an elective gym unit. All physical education classes begin with dynamic stretching to improve flexibility and reduce the potential for injury.
Teaching students to make nutritious meal and snack choices, also helps them build a lifetime foundation for fitness.
Director of food services, Bruce Gluck, a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, has transformed the school lunch program. Under his direction, the staff has been trained to prepare lunch fresh every day using local, sustainable and organic products whenever possible.
"We've been trying to change the playing field for a number of years and now have reached a point where we can provide all natural and fresh food for the students and the community," Gluck told About Town.
Cobie Graber of Cobie Concepts, a New Canaan-based public relations and marketing firm, sits on the Wellness Committee.
"I've been reaching out to businesses and civic organizations," she said, " to extend the reach of our wellness initiative community wide."
Graber has been in contact with Rosie's, Lemongrass and Chef Luis about featuring healthy items on their menus. She's also reached out to a the New Canaan Recreation Department and the YMCA to offer more unstructured opportunities for fitness and play.
Jay Egan would like the Recreation Department to offer more activities for less structured fitness. NCHS currently hosts an Open Gym on Sundays for New Canaan residents age 13 and older to play pick-up basketball games.
Graber is hoping the Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Selectmen will help engage other businesses.
Selectman and owner of Bob's Sports Rob Mallozzi said, "Count on Bob's Sports to participate." Mallozzi plans to make available one or two specific fitness items, like a medicine ball or a jump rope.
Dr. Kolek is encouraged by the extended community's involvement and support.
"It will make a difference in the lives of the students," she said "and the overall wellness of New Canaan."
In This article
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South Elementary School
8 Farm Rd, New Canaan, CT -
New Canaan High School
11 Farm Rd, New Canaan, CT -
Rosie
27 Elm St, New Canaan, CT -
Chef Luis
129 Elm St, New Canaan, CT -
New Canaan Chamber of Commerce
91 Elm St, New Canaan, CT
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Bob's Sports
96 Park St, New Canaan, CT -
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New Canaan Recreation Department
677 South Ave, New Canaan, CT (Waveny House, 2nd Floor) -
New Canaan YMCA
564 South Ave, New Canaan, CT
Cobie Graber
5:31 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
There are many ways to piggyback on the launch of Fitnessgrams to benefit local businesses as well as the community-at-large. To get you thinking, here are some ideas:
-Ask local restaurants and markets to highlight healthy options for dining in and takeout.
-Publicize local biking, walking and running groups and/or provide suggested routes.
-Offer more open gym hours for people of all ages to play pick up games during evenings and weekends.
-Host a fitness fair featuring local personal trainers, gyms and sports groups.
-Create opportunities for parents to do the same fitness assessment that their children are doing in school.
-Host a 5K walk/run/stroll route through the downtown to get the community moving.
-Create a cookbook of healthy snack and meal recipes by local chefs.
-Work with local media to develop a wellness column that leverages the knowledge of local experts.
-Create a guide for buying produce in season featuring a seasonal recipe.
-Offer discounts on exercise equipment, healthy meal options, etc. to encourage exercise and good nutrition.
What ideas do you have?
Christina Fagerstal
10:10 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
This is such a positive set of suggestions to help people get off the couch! I chime in and welcome anything that encourages you to get outdoors and move is a great way to stay fit whether it be playing sports, walking in the woods with your dog, enjoying the winter by skiing, whatever. These suggestions here also involve supporting our local town, whether it be the restaurants or the shops. Kudos to Cobie Graber for putting together such wonderful tips to help us in this New Year!
Eugenie Diserio
12:12 am on Friday, January 14, 2011
Thank you so much Cobie and Christina for your great comments. If anyone can launch a new dimension of thought and action around town it is you gals! There has been some great feedback on this article so obviously many are on the wavelength. Let's make New Canaan the role model town to be living our daily lives with a new awareness to our "health and wellness." And also add "calmness, contentment and happiness."
Oh and my correction ...it's Rosie not Rosie's!
MC
7:14 pm on Monday, January 17, 2011
My only issue with this is that there are those of us who believe the USDA food pyramid to be greatly misguided. Low-fat eating is a thing of the past, but unfortunately this has not trickled up to the "politically correct dietary guidelines." A good primer for this is found here http://wwww.westonaprice.org/abcs-of-nutrition/1950-comments-on-the-usda-dietary-guidelines.html But also, we have to remember that in this era of people wanting smaller government, the last thing we desire is to have dietary "scold" stepping in when it comes to parenting our children. For those of us who do not agree with the food pyramid, we'd like to teach our children ourselves! Thank you for your kind consideration of differing viewpoints.
Eugenie Diserio
9:46 pm on Monday, January 17, 2011
MC...Thanks very much for contributing your comments about school nutrition. I will be doing a story in the near future specifically with Bruce Gluck, New Canaan public schools director of food services and exploring his menus and ingredients and will ask his opinion of the USDA food pyramid as well. Also, you are exactly right, that parents need to take the lead as examples of health and well being for their children.
This link you have provided is very informative and I believe enforces a part of what the schools are trying to do which is to focus on serving primarily natural and organic foods, (including "good fats") without added chemicals, colorings, preservatives, antibiotics and other toxins.
Let's keep exploring this topic here and I look forward to exploring it further in an About Town story.
Cobie Graber
10:12 pm on Wednesday, January 19, 2011
MC - I nominated food services director Bruce Gluck for a scholarship to the Institute for Integrative Nutrition specifically because there is so much misinformation. While I am thrilled that Mr. Gluck has weighed the various nutrition theories before choosing what to cook for school lunch, I realize that it is not his job nor his intention to dictate what parents choose to serve in their homes. However, it does provide a valuable opportunity for discussion and consideration. I hope that people will read about the positive impact he has had on nutrition at our public schools and feel similarly grateful.
MC
7:36 am on Thursday, January 20, 2011
Dear Ms. Graber: Bruce Gluck is tops in my book, and I do not think it is his intention to dictate anything. Rather, the impression I got from this article is that others are attempting to put pressure on not only the schools but local restaurants to change their menus. My feeling is that Mr. Gluck is very capable, and also that restaurants have a right to serve whatever brings them the most business. If a restaurant on its own offers healthy alternatives, and that brings in more customers, then that is letting the free market determine what it serves. I think perspective is also helpful. A child has 21 meals per week, and of that, only 5 of them are school lunches--the parents are in the driver's seat when it comes to the majority of their children's meals. Like I said, in the spirit of less government involvement, I feel that Mr. Gluck, restaurants, everyone should be left to operate according to their extremely capable skills. Again, very respectfully, I am submitting my point of view. Thank you!
New Canaan YMCA
6:58 pm on Thursday, January 20, 2011
The New Canaan YMCA is proud to support this community-wide fitness initiative. In addition to our structured sports and fitness programs, we do offer open gym and swim times, along with our Wellness Center, each allowing our members to work toward a healthier lifestyle in a more flexible manner. The Wellness Center is open to all members 15 and older. Members who are ages 12-14 may participate in an 8-week F.I.T. Class, teaching principles of strength training, aerobic endurance, and muscle conditioning, as well as proper technique for using the Wellness Center equipment. Once members ages 12-14 complete the course, they are able to use the Wellness Center on their own from 2-5 PM or anytime with a parent.
New Canaan YMCA
7:00 pm on Thursday, January 20, 2011
Below is a schedule of open gym times at the New Canaan Y. For more information, call 966-4528. You can also view our gym, group fitness & pool schedules online at newcanaanymca.org.
Open Gym:
Mondays: 5:45-9:00 AM (Adult Open Gym)
9:00-10:00 AM (Open Gym)
12:00-1:30 PM (Adult Men’s Open Basketball)
Tuesdays: 5:45-6:30 AM (Adult Open Gym)
6:30-8:00 AM (Adult Open Basketball)
9:00-10:00 (Open Gym)
12:00-1:30 PM (Adult Men’s Open Basketball)
Wednesdays: 5:45-6:30 AM (Adult Open Gym)
6:30-8:00 AM (Adult Open Basketball)
9:00-10:00 AM (Open Gym)
2:15-3:00 PM (Open Gym)
3:45-4:30 PM (Open Gym)
Thursdays: 5:45-9:00 AM (Adult Open Gym)
6:30-8:00 AM (Adult Open Basketball)
9:00-10:00 AM (Open Gym)
12:00-1:30 (Adult Men’s Open Basketball)
2:15-3:00 PM(Open Gym)
Fridays: 5:45-6:30 AM (Adult Open Gym)
6:30-8:00 AM (Adult Open Basketball)
9:00-11:00 AM (Open Gym)
2:45-4:00 PM (Teen Open Gym)
Saturdays: 7:30-9:30 AM (Adult Men’s Open Basketball)
11:30 AM-6:30 PM (Open Gym)
Sundays: 9:00-11:00 AM (Adult Men’s Basketball)
2:00-5:00 PM (Family Open Gym)
Rob Mallozzi III
9:07 am on Monday, January 24, 2011
The Iblast newsletter that landed in my in-box this morning reminds the community that the ponds at Mead and Mill are open for skating. I could not think of a better form of exercise and family fun than an outing to one of these ponds.
Rob Mallozzi III