Principal's Perspective

All’s Well 

All’s well.   Let’s find out what’s going on with Whitley Co. and Northern Heights as far as “Wellness”. Our “Wellness” has become disturbing to many of us and the American lifestyle we may be prone to.   Trying to pull together well being of our spirit, body, and mind can be a daunting task, especially the body.

In reading literature put out by Columbia City’s Local Y.M.C.A. I found the following information from the Center for Disease Control:

* Fifty nine million adults are obese.

* More than 1.7 million Americans die of chronic diseases each year.  This accounts for 70% of all deaths in the United States.

*125 million Americans live with one or more chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and/or diabetes.  70% of the U.S.’s total medical care cost go to treating these chronic conditions.

*  The percentage of young people ages 6-19 years of age who are overweight has tripled since 1980.

* Children are being diagnosed with Type II diabetes at an unprecedented rate.

* If current trends continue, death attributed to poor diet and lack of physical activity may soon surpass smoking related deaths.

* A sustained 10% weight loss will reduce an overweight person’s lifetime medical costs by $2,200 - $5,300 by lowering costs associated with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and high cholesterol.

* 33% of all U.S. deaths each year can be attributed to lack of physical activity and poor eating habits.

* More than a third of young people grades 9-12 do not regularly engage in vigorous physical activity.

"The current generation is the first one that may not outlive its parents, or live shorter lives."

 The quote from Dr. S. Jay Olshansky, Longevity Researcher, says a lot.  “Today’s younger generation will have shorter and less healthy lives than their parents for the first time in modern history”.      

 One of the goals for Northern Heights classroom teachers last year was to take a five minute walk each day if possible to stimulate the heart and brain. Students would walk outside or in the building. Experts state that exercise may boost academic performance in various way such as: burning off pent-up energy, allowing kids to pay attention better and focus on their work, boosting self-esteem and mood, and increasing blood flow to the brain which will help them with their memory and concentration.       

Our physical education classes meet every 4^th day and go through a curriculum of fitness with non-manipulatives (running, jumping, tumbling)  and fitness with manipulatives ( balls, hula hoops, Frisbees, polo sticks, jump rope).   Warm up and cool downs are often used.   We also start in the fall with two minute run each gym period, working each month up one minute, to a seven minute run in the Spring.   In April or May we also have children participate in the mile run for their personal best time.  

Our WCCS corporation attempts to implement healthy foods and snacks in the classroom.  School lunches are prepared by cutting back on sugar in recipes.  They use more “turkey dogs” for hot dogs, etc., and hamburger buns made of wheat.  Our corporation has an annual “Health Fair” where blood work is available to all staff, including Lipid profile, Cholesterol and Glucose screening.    Also offered throughout the year is C.P.R./A.E.D training to any staff member who volunteers to be certified.   The corporation also subscribes for every building, The Well Workplace magazine for our staff.  It is a magazine advocating healthy living and great tips.   Some of the most recent tips and articles are:   Walking or Driving?  The cost of operating a car for 1 year…$5170.  Cost of operating a bicycle for 1 year $120.00.   Walking is FREE.   Sliming food recipes.  Understanding High Blood Pressure.   How many calories does Physical Activity use.

Moderate activity:

Activity                                   Hour                Calories burned

Hiking                                      1                      370

Light gardening                         1                      330

Dancing                                    1                      330

Golfing (walking)                      1                      330

Biking (less than 10mph)           1                      290

Walking  (3.5 miles per hour)    1                      280

Weight training                         1                      220

Whitley Co. Consolidated Schools are putting “Wellness” in the picture and trying to make our staff and students aware of wellness and taking care of ourselves.

Principal: Robert J. Hoke

hokerj@wccs.k12.in.us