Commit to Be Fit Newsletter
April 18th, 2022
19 January 2024/ Issue No. 271
Featured Photo
Since school was closed due to snow, ice, and frigid temperatures, we don't have any happenings from the week to share. However, this is the perfect opportunity to feature a photo taken last month of students enjoying the sensory pathway.
In the Fall of 2019, C2BF debuted a sensory pathway in the primary wing of the elementary school. The pathway, which spans the length of two hallways, encourages students to engage in a variety of movement patterns: hopping, marching, heel-to-toe balance walk, hopscotch, crab walking, and more. Judging from the smiles in the photo, it's safe to say that it's fun too!
Join us for Line Dancing!
Walking Group
Lace up your shoes and join us for Walking Group on Mondays! This group meets at 3:45 pm at the RCES flag pole. Whether you are competing in one of our physical activity challenges or you would like to get a few extra steps in, we would love for you to come out and walk with us! This group is open to the entire community. Tell your friends or bring them with you!
Now that we are in winter, there may be times that school is closed due to weather. Walking Group will not meet when school is not in session. We will email our newsletter subscribers if there is a cancellation. School closures will be announced on the RCPS website as well.
Line Dancing
If you are looking to increase your step count, burn calories, improve coordination, enhance static and dynamic balance, and/or just move your body, give line dancing a try! Best yet, it's fun for all ages. If you are looking for something to do at home on a snow day, there are lots of videos available online. Here is a short tutorial for an easy-to-learn line dance to the song "Any Man of Mine." It's labeled as "beginner" level, but it will definitely get your heartrate up. Gather your family and learn the footwork together.
Naturally, this is also a plug for our community event. We invite you to join us on Saturday, January 20th at 6:30 pm for our LINE DANCING LESSONS EVENT at RCES. It's free and open to the entire community. Bring your family/friends and get ready to have a blast! No dancing experience required; the choreography will be broken down into segments for you to learn "step by step." Not only is it fun, line dancing is a FANTASTIC source of physical activity. During our last line dancing event, my watch tracked over 9K steps. We hope you will join us!
Make Time to Play
Wanna play? You don’t have to be a kid to play. The recent blanket of snow is a perfect opportunity to get outside and play! There are many benefits of playing like a kid again for adults. Playful activities can help release endorphins and reduce stress. Tap into your creative side and imagination and build a snowman! Who doesn’t like a good snowball fight? Many childhood games involve physical activity. Playing like a kid can be a fun way to incorporate exercise into your routine, promoting cardiovascular health and overall fitness.
Grant yourself permission to be a kid again, as it can improve your mood with the increased levels of happy hormones - serotonin and dopamine. Play encourages anyone, regardless of age, to be present in the moment, promoting mindfulness. When playing like a kid, adults can temporarily escape daily stresses and focus on the joy of the activity.
I encourage you to incorporate play into adult life as it can positively impact your physical, mental, and emotional health. So, get outside and sleigh ride, build a snowman, have a snowball fight, connect with nature, and be a kid again!
Chickpea Noodle Soup
RCES Reset Room
RCES Staff- Do you ever feel you could use a quick reset? It's amazing what a few minutes of relaxation and deep breathing can do to change your mood. C2BF invites you to visit our Reset Room. Each day from 9:30-10:30 am, the ABL lab will be transformed into a relaxing oasis, complete with dimmed lighting, tranquil sounds, and calming images projected onto the wall. Grab a bean bag chair and take a moment to let go of your stress in this immersive, peaceful environment. Additionally, we encourage you to bring in any students who may benefit from this experience as well.
Teachers- feel free to email us (c2bf@rappahannockschools) if you would like for us to cover class for a few minutes. We would be happy to come in and lead a classroom mindfulness activity while you enjoy a quick reset.
Teacher Resources
RCPS Teachers-- As a friendly reminder, we have a massive database of brain breaks (PreK-12) and movement games/activities with SOL and content integration ideas (PK-5). CLICK HERE to view the Teacher Resource page. If you prefer, the C2BF team would be happy to come to your classroom and lead a brain break, activity, or even a mindful minute. Email c2bf@rappahannockschools.us to schedule a push-in.
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.