Commit to Be Fit Newsletter
April 18th, 2022
28 April 2023/ Issue No. 244
Recent Happenings
Action Based Learning Lab
Our ABL Lab exploratory classes continues to be a hit with elementary school students. This week's stations featured lots of balance and coordination and stations. The purposeful movements are based on the latest brain research that supports a link between foundational movement and academic success. Ask the students and they will tell you that it is lots of fun!
EVERY KID HEALTHY WEEK
We are wrapping up Every Kid Healthy Week! Throughout the week, we have shared healthy tips and activities with students to promote healthy living. Check out the different daily themes and activities below.
Mindful Monday
Students practiced deep breathing exercise to calm the mind and body during a mindful minute.
Tasty Tuesday
RCES students had an opportunity to sample lettuce that was grown by ABL classes this semester. Served with a dab of ranch, the school-grown lettuce was a hit! Multiple students asked for seconds and said it was quite "tasty!"
Wellness Wednesday
During Wellness Wednesday, we focused on the benefits of walking for both physical and mental well-being. Staff were encouraged to take students outdoors for a 15-minute walking break.
Thoughtful Thursday
For Thoughtful Thursday, students were encouraged to take a post-it note from the cafeteria bulletin board and complete the task. The thoughtful tasks included "making someone smile, "sharing their favorite book with someone," "being a good listener," "holding the door for a classmate or teacher," and more!
Family Friday
For Family Friday, we are launching our family-friendly MAY CHALLENGE. While this is OPEN TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, we are encouraging our school families to engage in fun outdoor physical activity throughout the month of May! For more details, check out the announcement section below.
Meal Prep Workshop
This month, our community meal prep workshop featured the highly requested salad in a jar! Participants each made four salads to enjoy throughout the week. Yum! Check out our featured recipe section to see the Balsamic Vinaigrette Homemade Dressing recipe.
Announcements
Please Take a Moment to Share Your Feedback
Commit to Be Fit invites you to participate in this short, anonymous survey to help us identify ways to strengthen our community offerings for the upcoming school year. Your feedback is very valuable to us. We greatly appreciate your input.
CLICK HERE to begin this anonymous survey.
May Wellness Challenge
Join the Commit to Be Fit May Challenge. To participate, go outdoors and engage in physical activity. Anything that requires movement counts! Ex. walking, bike riding, backyard games, gardening, hiking, golf, etc. Check out the helpful activity tracker to record your activities. For each day you complete an activity, you will receive one entry into our prize drawing (ex. 8 days = 8 entries). At the end of the month, visit www.rappc2bf.com/may-challenge to enter our prize drawing. Entries must be received by June 5th. This fun challenge is open to everyone in Rappahannock County. Complete as an individual (18 years or older) OR as a family (all ages). Challenge runs from May 1st- May 31st.
Join our C2BF May Challenge FB group! Feel free to post photos of your fun adventures and outdoor activities. However, this is not required. The link to the FB group can be found by visiting our website. Not on FB? Email your pic to hjenkins@rappahannockschools.us and we will post on your behalf. Commit Club participants--For each post shared between May 1st- May 11th, you will receive 1 Commit Club point.
To view the flier and activity tracker, CLICK HERE.
POP Bucks are Back for ALL RCPS Students!!!!
Exciting News—POP Bucks are back! Through a PATH Foundation grant, Commit to Be Fit is excited to continue the POP (Power of Produce) Bucks program to provide access to local food and support our local 2023 Farmers Market season. EVERY Rappahannock County Public Schools student has the opportunity to redeem a POP Bucks Market Bag, which will include local produce, protein, bread, and more! Plus, NEW THIS YEAR, every student picking up a market bag will be given two $5 tokens to redeem for additional items at participating market vendors. To learn more and/or to sign-up for your appointment date (REQUIRED), visit https://www.rappc2bf.com/pop-bucks
*Once the sign-up is full for the upcoming weekend, the link will close. Be sure to check back each week for availability.
Commit Club Updates
It's hard to believe that our school year is coming to an end. Check out important Commit Club information below.
**Final Day to Earn Points- Thursday, May 11th
**Last Chance to Cash in Points for Prizes - Friday, May 12th- Friday, May 19th
(Points will not roll over to the next school year).
Grand Prize Announcement-- One participant will receive 2- ONE TUBE TRIP GIFT CERTIFICATE from Shenandoah River Outfitters! Floating down the beautiful Shenandoah River with a friend is a wonderful way to relax! As a reminder, you will receive one entry into the drawing for every 20 points you have earned throughout the year. For example, 40 points equal two entries. Even if you have cashed out your points for prizes, your overall points will be tallied.
Check out our May Challenge to see how you can earn a few extra points from May 1st- May 11th.
Staff Salad Bar Winners
This semester, C2BF invited all staff members to participate in a weekly free salad drawing. This week's winners are Krystal Smoot (high school) and Kathy Zehr Rhodes (elementary). C2BF will be delivering your free salad coupons shortly. Enjoy, Krystal and Kathy!
Upcoming Classes & Workshops
THE MAY CALENDAR IS NOW AVAILABLE! To view the MAY CALENDAR, CLICK HERE.
*****NEW THIS MONTH- MEDITATION & RELAXATION is available by SIGN-UP only. If you are planning on attending, please email hjenkins@rappahannockschools.us by Wednesday evening. Additionally, Low Impact Aerobics will not be meeting this month.
As a friendly reminder, classes will not be held on early release days or when school is not in session for students. Be sure to join our Facebook GROUP (search Commit to Be Fit) or sign-up for our newsletters at the bottom of our website homepage (www.rappc2bf.com) to receive class updates and/or cancellations.
Location information is available on our website www.rappc2bf.com/activities
Have additional questions? Email c2bf@rappahannockschools.us.
Tips from the Team
Enhance Your Mood with Color
Did you know that color can affect our thoughts, mood, and even behavior? Looking at color stimulates a neurological response in the brain, which causes the hypothalamus gland to release hormones. Since each color affects us a bit differently, understanding color psychology can help us use color to our advantage.
Cool colors such as green and blue are linked to the release of oxytocin, a hormone which helps us to feel calm. Green, which is associated with nature and health, promotes balance and has been shown to help reduce anxiety. It can induce feelings of peacefulness and feeling refreshed. Blue, another cool color, increases feelings of tranquility, trust, and relaxation.
On the other hand, warm colors can trigger the release of dopamine, which can boost your mood. Orange, a warm color, can increase energy levels and stimulates the mind. It is often associated with creativity, confidence, and feelings of happiness. Similarly, yellow can promote a positive attitude and boosts self-confidence.
Color psychology is largely used in advertising to trigger certain emotional responses in consumers. Have you ever noticed that many fast food restaurants use red in their marketing campaigns? That's because the color red has been shown to induce hunger. Additionally, color psychology is used in branding to help portray a desired impression of the brand. Fun fact-- we used color psychology when designing our 3 Cs logo: green (healthy), blue (trustworthy), and turquoise (uplifting).
This week's tip is simple. Try using color to enhance your mood. Whether you decide to wear it or decorate with it, color can brighten your day, literally and figuratively.
It’s Farmers' Market Season!
Do you know your favorite fruit or vegetable can travel thousands of miles before it hits the shelves at your local grocery store? Commercially grown fruits and vegetables can be harvested before they reach peak eating quality. Planting a garden allows fruits and vegetables to be picked at their peak ripeness when it's most dense with nutrients. By doing so, it ensures maximum flavor and nutritional value. If planting a garden isn't an option, buy locally-grown fruits and vegetables and support your local farmers. If you need more clarification about the hours or location of your nearest market, use this Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services search tool to find one close to you. If you are local to Rappahannock County, stop by the Rappahannock Farmers Market this Saturday, April 29th, between 9 am - 12 pm for their opening day at the new location, 12018 Lee Highway, Sperryville, VA 22740 (School House/ Black Twig Lawn). Eat Fresh, Buy Local!
Wellness Fun Fact
Featured Recipe
Taken from our meal prep workshop, this week's featured recipe is an easy dressing to add to any salad. Combine ingredients, stir, and enjoy!
Commit to Be Fit is a school sponsored, grant funded program in Rappahannock County, Virginia. Through the generosity of the PATH Foundation, Commit to Be Fit was created to promote a culture of wellness in Rappahannock County Public Schools and the Rappahannock community.