Commit to Be Fit Newsletter
April 18th, 2022
20 October 2023/ Issue No. 260
Photo of the Week
Scarf Juggling
Scarf juggling is serious business! The students have been enjoying this new station in the Action Based Learning Lab. Juggling enhances coordination, promotes cross lateralization, and requires concentration to keep the scarves in the air.
RCHS Harvest of the Month
October's Harvest of the Month is apples. Ms. Mallory Grady, Regional Farm-to-School Associate returned to RCHS with a tasty sample of overnight oats with apples and cinnamon for the high school students to try during lunchtime on Oct. 18th. Students and staff said it was delicious! Check out the recipe in our Featured Recipe section.
Shout-out to Farm-to-Table
On Wednesday, Oct. 18th the Farm-to-Table class had their first HARVEST: French Breakfast Radishes, Globe Radishes, and Cherry Tomatoes. Within hours, the produce harvested was served in the RCES cafeteria as part of the salad, which accompanied the homemade pizza!!!
Farm-to-Table is taught by Ms. Michele Fincham with assistance from Brian Volmrich, RCPS Cafeteria Liaison. RCPS would like to give a special shout-out to Headwaters, the Rappahannock County Public Education Foundation, Inc. for their support in supplying the soil for the student gardens.
Join us for meal prep! We will be making Pumpkin Pie Energy Balls. These tasty treats are packed with protein and are awesome on-the-go snacks. If you would like to reserve your spot for this workshop, please complete this GOOGLE FORM by Friday, October 20th. This class is first come, first serve and the form will close at 10 participants. Once closed, we will send you a spreadsheet with ingredient list and quantity. We hope you can join us!
Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Energy Balls
Date: Wednesday, October 25th
Time: 3:45-4:30 pm
Location: Elementary School ABL Lab (Rm 1)
LAST Day to Register: Friday, October 20th
Our popular Hike, Rappahannock community challenge is back! To participate, go on at least one hike during the month of October. Hikes can be done at ANY LOCATION and ANY DISTANCE. Have a favorite trail? Yes, repeating the same trail counts. Get ready to have some fun physical activity while enjoying the beautiful scenery!
PRIZES: We will have two prize drawings; each winner will receive a C2BF hat!
CLICK HERE to learn more and register!
*Registration is required.
POP Bucks Tokens
RCPS Families-- If you have participated in the POP Bucks Market Bags program and still have left over tokens, be sure to redeem them at the Rappahannock Farmers' Market by November 18th.
Fit Kids Clinic Open for RCPS Students and Staff
RCPS is excited to announce that the Fit Kids Clinic has reopened and is available to all RCPS students and staff. If your child gets sick at school, leaving work is not always easy. Telehealth makes it easier. With your consent, our telehealth presenter, Ms. Goode, 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. This clinic saves valuable time (for students and parents) and reduces absenteeism. The clinic is available for all students in grades PreK-12 with parental consent. Parents and Guardians- you can find the necessary paperwork 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!
Read and Reap the Benefits
If you’re not already a reader, grab a good book. We have all probably heard that reading is good for us, but may not be exactly familiar with some of the benefits. Keeping the brain stimulated through reading has been shown to stave off mental decline. One study discovered reading fiction increased the ability to feel empathy for others. There is also the benefit of increased creativity and thinking agility. Those who read regularly tend to have more mental flexibility which allows them to adapt to changing situations. Reading allows us to be continuing learners. And don’t forget about self-care. Reading puts our brains in a state similar to meditation. So the next time you need a little time to yourself, set the screens aside, relax with a book, and reap the benefits of a strong mind.
Helpful Tips for Selecting Quality Foods
Eating a perfect, well balanced diet is not the easiest thing to do. It can be time consuming, expensive and let's be honest, an inconvenience. With busy work schedules and family commitments, it's easier to pick up a packaged snack from the gas station than finding time that you don’t have to make something up. While it’s hard to resist those bags of chips or containers of cookies, we have to remember they are empty calories and offer zero nutritional value, not to mention can lead to sugar crashes and another snack within the next hour. You will find that when we fill our bodies with better quality foods, we feel better, stay fuller longer and overall live a much healthier lifestyle. It is completely OKAY to eat your favorite snacks, just remember to keep it in moderation. If you find yourself struggling every now and then or need some ideas to help keep you on track, here is a few tips:
If you are looking for packaged, on the go products, make sure that they are low in sodium and added sugars
MEAL PREP! Set aside an hour out of your week to prepare lunches and snacks for each day of the week
At the drive-thru, pick grilled options as opposed to fried
Stick to the outer aisles of the grocery store to browse the healthier whole food options (lean meats, low fat dairy, fruits, vegetables, etc.)
This week's featured recipe was shared by Mallory Grady, our fantastic Regional Farm-to-School Associate.
Introducing Staff Shout-Outs
RCPS Staff- C2BF invites you to share staff shout-outs to run in our weekly newsletter in the teachers tidbits section. We will run this throughout the semester, so feel free to submit as often as you like. Messages can be signed or anonymous; it's up to you. Let's spread kindness, happiness, and gratitude with positive notes!
CHECK OUT THIS WEEK'S SHOUT-OUTS
- I want to give a shoutout to the amazing Dani Pond! She has been amazing supervisor and support to me during my first year here at Rappahannock! I am so thankful for her! -Kylee :)
- Bethany Bostic and Katherine Todd -- Always wiling to help out and support staff and students! They rock!
- Evelyn, thank you for always checking in not only with the students but also the staff!
- Shout out to Stephanie, Angie, and Crystal in the front office at the High School for keeping everything and everyone on track. Y'all the real MVPs!!!
- Thank you Deputy Ubben for watching over us all and looking out for the students! We're blessed to have you with us!!
- Shout out to Sarah Moore. She always has a kind word and a helping hand for all students and staff.
- Shout out to ALL of my school family, as each one is important, works hard, and shows up every day, even when they may not feel 100% phyically, mentally, or emotionally! EVERY staff member is important and appreciated and deserves to be recognized! Tiffany M.
- Tiffany Montague is RCES's cheerleader. Always offering supportive emails, and now giving her planning time to offer to other teachers that may need a break, copying, etc. Thank you Tiffany for always bringing sunshine! Lora Waterbury
- Huge shout out to Bobby, Ed, Ray, and Hunter for all that they do to keep the schools clean and classes running. You guys are truly awesome and sooo much appreciated!!!
- Thank you Deputy Ubben for the time you take to talk with and work with our kids and make them feel seen and appreciated!
- Shout to Mr. Seward. Your positive energy brightens my day!
- I am extremely grateful for Erica Robinson! She is creative, super organized, always willing to help, and a big asset to our school. Thank you, Erica, for all that you do (teaching STEAM, working with students in their classrooms, supporting teachers, aimswebPlus testing, coaching, and so much more)!
- Thank you Mrs. Tisera and Mrs. Bullard for always going above and beyond for our ELL students. You two truly care for your students and it shows!
- We are so lucky to have Mrs. Jarrett as a middle school teacher! Not only is she a great math teacher, but the students love her! You can always find her in the middle of a group of sixth and seventh graders each morning in the hallway.
- Shout out to Mrs. Waterbury and Ms. Wever for being amazing behavior specialists. We are blessed to have to not one but two talented ladies that care deeply for our kids, advocate for them fiercely, and work endlessly to meet their needs while still somehow finding time to support the adults in the building as well!
- You are greatly appreciated, Mrs. Gail Deal! Thank you for being a great computer teacher, para educator, and colleague.
- Shout out to Ms. McMath for being an amazing teacher, colleague, and friend. Your tireless efforts to help your students learn while creating a great classroom environment are so appreciated!
- Shout out to our incredibly hardworking custodians! The elementary school looks great because you all are always going above and beyond to take such great care of our building.
- Thank you, Ms. Seeley for being such a talented and dedicated part of the RCPS family. You are a great GT teacher, ITRT, theatre teacher, director, and 24 coach!
- Shout out to our retirees that continue to be a huge asset in our school! I knew you were all leaving behind big shoes to be filled when you retired, but I’m grateful that you have each found your way back. Thank you Mrs. Rhonda Jenkins for continuing to put all of your experience and talent as a PE teacher to use with our after-school kids. I’m so grateful Mrs. Molly Bailey and Mrs. Layne Vickers are back to support our math and reading students! Ms. Sheila Smith, your work with our ELL students is so important and appreciated. Last but not least, Ms. Janet Jenkins, we are so lucky to have you back in the building working with our sped students! Your knowledge, skill set, and dedication are a blessing and asset to RCES!
- Mrs. Crystal Jenkins, your patience, kindness, and nurturing personality are so appreciated in pre-k!
- In addition to being our reading specialist and ALL that entails, thank you for making school fun with spirit days and fun events like trick-or-treating, Mrs. Todd!
- Thank you to Kathy Zehr Rhodes for planning and preparing a great anti-bullying and kindness campaign this month at both schools!! Kathy is the greatest role model for kindness and positivity and an exceptional school psychologist!!❤️❤️❤️
- Thank you to Kurt Streu & Karen Sanborn for providing a delicious lunch for RCHS and thank you Gail Czekaj for having a birthday!!❤️❤️❤️
- Shout out to our RCES and RCHS Cafe staff, as well as Jackie Tederick and Brian Volmrich. Our school meals are delicious! Thank you for going above and beyond to feed the students and staff. It's very much appreciated.
Staff Salad Bar Winners
The winners of this week's FREE salad bar coupon goes to Viviana Tisera (RCES) and Dani Pond (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.