Commit to Be Fit Newsletter
April 18th, 2022
5 April 2024/ Issue No. 282
Superintendent's Physical Activity Award Challenge Prize Winners
Platinum- 250 minutes of moderate physical activity AND 2 muscular strengthening activities weekly
Gold- 250 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly
Silver- 200 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly
Bronze- 150 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly
Iron- 30-149 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly
Thanks to the generosity of a staff wellness grant, exciting prizes were up for grabs! On April 5th, participants eagerly gathered after school for a live prize drawing for each of the five categories. The lucky winners (pictured) received a symbolic check reflecting their prize value. Up next, the winners will select the prize of their choice from a menu of health-related options such as spa gift cards, gym memberships, fitness equipment, meal delivery subscriptions, and more.
Congratulations to our prize drawing winners:
Platinum- Michele Fincham
Gold- Alivia Tuel & Robbie Fincham (split)
Silver- Katherine Todd
Bronze- Temple Murray (not pictured)
Iron- Carlos Seward
We would like to share a special shout-out to all the staff participants for their amazing efforts to create and/or increase their physical activity habits. While not everyone won a prize today, they ALL deserve lots of kudos for putting in the effort and hard work!
RCPS will be recognizing Neurodiversity/Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month throughout April. Mark your calendars for Monday, April 29th, at 3:45 pm, and join us at the RCES flagpole for a community walk (during Walking Group) to show support for understanding and embracing neurodiversity.
Just Chill Challenge
In our busy lives, it is important for our mental well-being to take time for ourselves to relax or participate in our favorite relaxing hobby. For this challenge, complete 450 minutes of relaxation during the month of April. This is only 15 minutes a day. Anything that relaxes you and you enjoy counts. Register today; the challenge kicked off on Monday, April 1st, but it's not too late to join in. For more details, to download your tracker (shown above), and to register for the challenge, CLICK HERE.
PRIZE DRAWING- If you achieve 450 minutes of relaxation during the month, you can enter our prize drawing. Two lucky winners will each receive a camping hammock.
Walking Group
Upcoming Cancellations-- Walking Group will NOT be meeting on April 8th (solar eclipse event).
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!
Thank you for everyone that expressed interest in a Mindfulness and Relaxation. Please help us select the best Wednesday to offer this workshop. This poll will close on Thursday, April 11th.
Which date would you prefer?
Benefits of Spending Time at the Beach
Need an excuse to get to a beach? Well, turns out the beach offers a myriad of benefits for our overall well-being. For starters, the sound of waves crashing creates a soothing ambiance which triggers a relaxation response in the brain reducing stress levels. Additionally, the rhythmic motion of the waves can induce a meditative state promoting mindfulness and mental clarity.
Not only is the beach relaxing, spending more time at the beach exposes our bodies to natural sunlight. Sunlight will boost vitamin D production which is essential for bone health and mood regulation. Just be mindful of overexposure which can increase the risk for skin cancer. The beach environment tends to encourage us to participate in more outdoor activities. Of course, engaging in physical activities like swimming or beach volleyball is great exercise. However, maybe step outside of your comfort zone and try something new like paddle boarding, surfing, or (my favorite) kiteboarding. You just might find a new hobby you love or meet new people with similar interests.
Ok, if we want to get down to the molecular level, we can’t forget the negative ions present in ocean air. Without getting into scientific terms, negative ions can help clear the air of airborne allergens such as pollen, mold spores, bacteria, and viruses. In one study, being exposed to negative ions for several hours or more had people with chronic depression and seasonal affective disorder record lower scores on surveys of their depression symptoms.
Finally, the simple act of being near the water often prompts us to unplug from technology and be present in the moment. The beach truly serves as a natural sanctuary for physical, mental, and emotional health. And don’t forget, a good walk in the sand acts as a natural exfoliant, making those feet baby-skin soft!
Be Mindful of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
Our bodies are home to a huge network of glands and hormones that help us function and regulate everything we do. We know this as our endocrine system, but what we may not know is that we are mindlessly exposing ourselves to harmful chemicals and toxins that can interfere with our body’s ability to release and trigger certain hormones. You may have soap bottles or cleaning products with the ingredients like parabens and phthalates or have perfume written on the front of it and think nothing of it. These buzzword ingredients are what we call Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC). These disruptors can mimic a hormone or block hormone receptors all together, preventing essential endocrine processes from taking place. In many, the root cause of underlying health issues come from the exposure to EDCs. When shopping for body and household products, stick to items with minimal ingredients and avoid those buzzword names. Be open to using simple, non-toxic cleaning products. Here is a list of minimal ingredient cleaning solutions to try to have on hand!
Glass cleaner- 1 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 cup distilled water
All-purpose cleaner- ¼ cup vinegar, 20 drops of essential oil, 1 tsp phosphorus-free dish soap, 2 cups boiled or distilled water
Bathroom cleaner-12 ounces of heated white vinegar, 8 ounces dawn dish soap
Floor cleaner-½ cup white vinegar, 1 gallon warm water
Stuffed Salmon
This week's recipe, from the Feel Good Foodie, features salmon fillets stuffed with a mix of Greek yogurt, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, Kalamata olives, green onions, garlic, dill, and lemon zest. Yum! To view the recipe, click HERE.
The winners of this week's FREE salad bar coupon goes to Lauren Barron (RCES) and Erin Platt (RCHS).
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.