Commit to Be Fit Newsletter
April 18th, 2022
12 April 2024/ Issue No. 283
Battle of the Blenders on Blender Bikes
The Battle of the Blenders championship round was held during the PTO Fun Run event, with each grade level voting on their favorite smoothie. To add to the fun, students had an opportunity to blend the smoothie ingredients on a student-powered blender bike! With students racing against one another, it was a true 'battle of the blenders.'
While it was a close race throughout the day, the Busy Bluebird (blueberry, banana, and orange) narrowly won the student choice championship, beating out the Fla-Mango (strawberry and mango) by only FIVE votes! Since it was such a close match-up, both smoothie flavors were available for students to enjoy during breakfast the following day.
If you missed the smoothie recipes in our March 29th newsletter, click here to view.
Student-Led Mindfulness in the Lab
At the conclusion of each ABL class, students have been taking turns leading mindfulness activities, such as deep breathing and mindful listening. Mindfulness helps to regulate the body by providing a calm environment and bringing attention to your body and space around you. It's the perfect way to conclude the movement-based activity stations before heading back to homeroom.
Special Upcoming Event- Relaxation, Mindfulness, & Sound Bath Experience
Join us for a 60-min. Relaxation, Mindfulness, & Sound Bath Experience that incorporates beautiful melodies from Tibetan singing bowls. Due to space limitations, registration is limited to only 17 participants on a first-come, first serve basis. Register HERE to reserve your spot! To learn more about the benefits of a sound bath, check out Holly's tip below.
Meet the Instructor- Rich began his career doing professional Bodywork in 2009; he studied at and later taught Myofascial Release and A&P at the Shenandoah Valley School of Therapeutic Massage located in Edinburg VA. He then went on to study Energy Healing, and holds Proficiency Certification in Integrative Energetic Medicine. He is a certified Meditation Instructor, and currently leads meditation groups in Luray and Front Royal, Virginia. Rich is a practitioner of Vibrational Therapies and integrates Sound Therapy into his Bodywork sessions and his Meditation classes by using Tibetan singing bowls and other specially tuned instruments that are crafted specifically for healing and stress relief. He trained with the Meditate School of Sound Healing in Asheville NC.
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.
Meet Tara Prince, the New Tele-Health Presenter!
We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Tara Prince to the RCPS Family! Ms. Prince brings 23 years of nursing experience to the Fit Kids Clinic and is excited to assist the students. RCPS Parents/Guardians- Leaving work is not always easy if your child gets sick at school. Telehealth makes it easier. With your consent, Ms. Prince will be able to use video telehealth technology to connect your child with a provider at Valley Health. In most cases, your child can be diagnosed without leaving school or you having to leave work. Conditions treated include asthma, allergies, cough, colds, flu, ear aches, sore throats, fever, headaches, head lice, pink eye, and skin irritations. The clinic saves valuable time (for students and parents) and reduces absenteeism. The clinic is available to all students in grades PreK-12 with parental consent, as well as available to RCPS staff. The necessary paperwork can be found at https://www.valleyhealthlink.com/about-us/school-based-telehealth-visits/
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!
Newsletter Announcement
The next edition of our newsletter will be available on Friday, April 26th. Check back in for more happenings, tips from the team, featured recipe, and more!
Good Vibrations & Relaxation
This month, our challenge is focused on relaxation! One way to reduce stress is by trying a sound bath. The concept of sound baths, or use of transformative sounds, can be traced back to ancient civilizations. Typically, singing bowls, or small instruments similar to bells, are used to create a resonate sound. During a sound bath session, participants lay in a relaxing position and focus on mindfulness and breathing techniques as the sound fills the room. When focusing on the gentle vibrations, many individuals feel as though they are being immersed in the sound. This is where the term “bath” comes from.
Sounds baths have been shown to increase both psychological and physiological health. Panchal et. al. (2020) found that just one 40-minute session of sound bath meditation resulted in a significant reduction in subjects’ heart rate as well as reduced feelings of tension, fatigue, and stress. Furthermore, the individuals experienced an increase in positive mood.
Want to try a sound bath experience? Join Commit to Be Fit on Wednesday, May 8th for our Relaxation, Mindfulness, and Sound Bath workshop! See the announcements section above to register. We hope you will join us for this ultimate relaxation session!
Helpful Strategies for Picky Eaters
Do you have a child that is a picky eater? I recently attended a school nutrition conference to find research suggests it can take up to 15 times to introduce a new food before a child will accept it. Feeding a picky eater can be a challenge, but creating positive experiences with food can remedy the situation. The following are strategies you can try:
It can take time for picky eaters to develop new food preferences, so be patient and keep offering a variety of foods.
Letting picky eaters help with cooking or meal planning can make them more excited about trying new foods.
Keep offering a variety of foods, including those they may have rejected in the past.
Show your picky eater that you enjoy a variety of foods by eating them yourself.
Try creatively presenting foods, such as making shapes or faces with fruits and vegetables.
Avoid forcing your picky eater to try new foods, as this can create negative associations with food.
Let your picky eater choose from a selection of healthy options so they feel more in control of their meals.
Limiting snacks between meals can help ensure that your picky eater is hungry at mealtime and more willing to try new foods.
Remember, every child is different, so what works for one picky eater may not work for another. Keep experimenting with different strategies until you find what works best for your child.
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Egg Salad Lettuce Wraps
This week's recipe from Eating Well features lettuce, our Harvest of the Month, and a healthier take on egg salad. To view the recipe, click HERE.
The winners of this week's FREE salad bar coupon goes to Matt Hummill (RCES) and Sarah Moore (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.