Family Fitness Night coming April 18

On Monday, April 18, at 6 p.m., the Odessa School District will be hosting a Family Fitness Night free to the students in primary through eighth grades and their families. This is a culminating activity upon conclusion of a three-year Carol M. White Pep Grant.

Over the course of the last three years, Odessa has adopted and implemented Focused Fitness, a new K-12 physical fitness curriculum which integrates health and nutrition. Funds from the grant have been used to purchase fitness and sports equipment, some of which is available for the public to use. Staff members also participated in staff development activities. Nutrition was promoted through the provision of a healthy lunch and breakfast program, while nutritious snacks and beverages were available in the school vending machines. Nutrition education resources and healthy snacks were served at many school events. The grant also funded free swim pool passes and a summer Chef Camp for students.

The evening of fun will begin at 6 p.m. with a free tasty and nutritious meal served in the school cafeteria. Upon signing in, families will be given an agenda delineating the order for visiting the various activity and learning stations. These include learning about and trying out the fitness bands plus the weight and training equipment in the basement of the high school gym. The students will demonstrate the skills from the President Youth Fitness Program tests in the multi-purpose room. In the high school commons and library there will be nutrition and fitness education activities and computer games and Bingo. There are lots of freebies for the children, and participants who visit the stations may sign up for a drawing for one of five major prizes including fitness wrist bands and musical toothbrushes from Dr. Condon’s dental clinic.

For more information, you may contact the school at 982-2111. We challenge our community to continue their support of fitness for our youth, for the greatest wealth is good health!