Postural Screenings in class Wed-Fri 3/31 through 4/2

Postural Screening              

3/31/, 4/1, 4/2  Wednesday-Friday

All students in grades 6, 7, & 8 will be having their initial postural screening during Wellness classes on 3/31, 4/1, and 4/2. For the screening boys will need to be shirtless and wear a pair of shorts and girls will need to wear a pair of shorts with either a bikini top, an open back bathing suit or a halter-top.  Screening will be held in a private area for each student. If your child has an abnormal initial screening result, I will re-screen your child in the coming weeks. If my screening results are also abnormal, you will be notified in writing of these findings. Students with a normal screening result will not be notified.  

We understand that this screening can heighten anxiety in children and, as with any state mandated screening, a child may be excused with a letter provided by the parent, guardian or physician.  This letter needs to include the full name of the child and state that you are excusing him or her from this year's postural screening.  Please be sure that you provide the name of your child's pediatrician or attending physician who routinely screens your child, and date and sign the letter.   If your child has already been diagnosed with scoliosis and is being followed by a physician for scoliosis, please provide the name of that physician as well.  

7th grade nutrition students-Coach A's original students. PLEASE READ!

Many of you have not shared your research assignment with me. I need it by the end of this week at the latest, Friday March 13, 2015.

If you forget what I'm talking about, you can click HERE for the assignment.

Some of you that submitted the assignment have an incomplete grade because questions are missing. I encourage you to check your school email. You will have a message from me telling you that you are missing material.

Any questions please see me in class this week.

Thanks,

8th grade CPR Certification Procedure

Dear Students & Families of 8^th graders,

I have started teaching the CPR with AED (Automated External Defibrillator) unit to the 8^th grade wellness classes. This unit is taught using the most current curriculum guidelines through the American Heart Association (AHA).  As a certified instructor with the American Heart Association, I am offering to certify any student who would like a certification card after school. Certification is voluntary and will require passing the following skills:

·         Chest compressions

·         Breaths

·         Unconscious choking

·         Conscious choking

·         Differences between care for an adult and care for a child age 1-8

·         AED set up and use

Any interested student can make an appointment with me on an individual basis to take the skills test.

This certification card will be valid for 2 years from the issue date and does not include infant (age 0-12 months).

Certification cards will be $6. Please make checks payable to Wayland Middle School and put “CPR cert.” in the memo.  Please have your child deliver the checks to me.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Check out all that snow!

Hey Everyone!

Isn't all the snow exciting! You know what that means...time to bring in clothes to go outside for skiing & snow shoeing this week for wellness class! As long as the conditions are good and it's not too cold out, we will be outside this week. If you missed my last post on skiing & snow shoeing click here to read all about why we head outside in the winter.

Please make sure that you have:       

source: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/winter/images/22231260/title/winter-snow-flakes-photo

1. a winter jacket
2. a hat
3. gloves
4. change of clothes

Enjoy the rest of you day and see you tomorrow,

Meditation becomes part of the Wellness Curriculum! Thank you Wayland Public Schools Foundation!

The Wayland Middle School Wellness Department is excited to announce that the Wayland Public School Foundation has approved the Getting Centered Guided Meditation grant.  We have the honor of having Helen Rainoff train the Wellness staff, as well as teach the students the powerful tools and benefits of meditation.  Helen was a Science and Biology teacher at Wayland High School from 1978 - 2010 so she is very familiar with the Wayland community.  She has been trained in meditation and has had a daily meditation practice for over 28 years.  While teaching at WHS, Helen integrated teaching meditation into her work with students, offered professional development programs for staff and offered meditation classes for the entire school community during High School Winter Week.

The first class will consists of talking about the benefits of meditation and discuss what experiential guided meditation is.  Students will also discuss and identify stressors, and explain how the body reacts to stress.  Students will be taught stretching exercises before meditation, and how to focus on the breath, muscle relaxation and guided visualization aspects. The second class will discuss other non related mediation relaxation tools.  Muscle relaxation, breath control, and focus meditation will be discussed and taught, as well as talking about ways to include meditation and mindfulness into every day. The third class will be taking the information and tools learned and putting them into practice during class. 

Meditation offers several benefits to children.  It will not only enhance their educational experience, but it will hopefully also inspire students to take the knowledge and tools learned and apply those valuable lessons into their everyday lives.  This creative program will add versatility and enrichment into the curriculum. 

Some of the benefits of meditation are:

•"stress-relieving practices to calm the mind and release physical tension”

•"helping kids boost awareness and control their moods”

•"help to curb kids’ impulsivity”

•"research has also shown school mindfulness programs to be effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety among adolescents”

•"mindfulness programs can aid kids in developing good habits that will help make them happier and more compassionate”

•"greater emotional stability and improved sleep quality, heightened feelings of compassion and greater success achieving weight-loss goals”

•“meditation can improve focus”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/23/meditation-for-kids_n_3318721.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/young-brains-benefit-meditation/story?id=19217997

Middle School students deal with the stress of school, and the many aspects of life on a day to day basis.  If given the tools needed to be able to meditate, they will be able to reduce their stress levels and focus on the important, essential parts of life.  This knowledge and outlet will allow students to grow to their optimal level and potential. 

The Wellness Department thanks the WSPS for this wonderful opportunity to incorporate meditation into our curriculum. 

Skiing & snow shoeing at WMS!

Happy New Year! It's that time of year again-time to think about skiing & snow shoeing during wellness in the gymnasium!   When conditions allow, we take all students outside to experience a favorite New England winter sport. The wellness department follows the Child Care Weather Watch (http://www.idph.state.ia.us/hcci/common/pdf/weatherwatch.pdf) when deciding to take classes outside. If it is deemed unsafe for outdoor activity, class will remain indoors. Students that have wellness in the classroom this rotation can experience skiing & snow shoeing during PM Wellness.

According to webmd.com:

For building endurance, [cross-country skiing] is one of the best sports you can do," says Miami neurologist Stephen Olvey, MD.

Snowshoeing.com states:

 Snowshoeing is the best bang-for-your-buck, fat-burning workout in winter," according to Dr. Ray Browning of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado's Health Science Center and Vail Mountain Man champion. "It's an exceptional way to achieve cardiovascular fitness, expend energy and reduce your chance of heart disease; plus it's low cost, easily mastered and fun.

We are asking for your help to ensure that everyone is properly dressed for outdoor activity.

The wellness department recommends that all students wear winter coats, hats, warm pants, and gloves or mittens.  Bringing a change of clothing for after class would be ideal as pants tend to get wet during class. Students should also have clothing appropriate for indoor activities in case conditions do not warrant outdoor activity.

If it is deemed safe to go outside, but you are not prepared for outdoor activity with the proper clothing, an alternative activity will be provided indoors with a reduction in his/her participation points for the day.

Thank you ahead of time for helping us to make this winter recreational activity enjoyable for all!

Be safe, healthy, & happy,

 

7th Grade Nutrition Test

Hello to my 7th grade students!

I've decided to postpone the nutrition unit test until after Thanksgiving. I want you all to have enough time to study and ask questions this week. I've been emailed by some of you saying that you need another copy of the notes.

Click here for the notes. Don't forget that the videos we watched in class are linked under the nutrition tab on this blog.

You should be able to tell me:

• whether a food is a protein, carbohydrate, or fat
• what tier carbohydrate certain foods are
• how to read an ingredients list and nutrition facts label and decided whether or not a product is healthy.
• the importance of sleep
• why sugar is so bad for us
• whether or not a food is whole grain
• what the 4 red flag ingredients are
• how to calculate the amount of sugar in a product
• the components of a complete meal
• know the role of insulin, cortisol, melatonin, and leptin in the body

Bring any questions to class this week!