High School Students Embrace Health And Wellness

By Larissa Lytwyn

Consciousness was rising as rapidly as the temperature on the morning of May 11 at Newtown High School, the day of the school’s annual Health Fair.

Near the school’s main entrance, a giant poster with the words “Drinking Destroys Dreams” hung on the brick facade overlooking a faux crime scene, replete with yellow police tape and the location of “fallen bodies” outlined in colored chalk.

The youth group of Newtown’s Organization to Stop Underage Drinking (NO SUDS) designed the “crime scene” to remind peers of the consequences of underage drinking.

Near the crime scene, state police officers introduced students to the “seat belt machine,” better known as “the Convincer.”

Students made sure they fastened their seat belt as they sat in the padded facsimile of a car seat. The seat was cranked to the top of an approximately ten-foot slope before being released, plunging the passenger to the bottom of the ramp with a striking force of five miles per hour.

“The Convincer was designed in 1982,” explained Trooper Greg Guerra, “to simulate a car crashing into a tree or brick wall at a rate of only five miles per hour. Students can see how heavy an impact can be at even the slightest of speeds.”

“It was surprisingly forceful,” concurred student Nick Hall. “I didn’t anticipate it being so fast.”

Another student, Adam Currier, described the contraption as “kind of scary.”

“I had no idea it would come down that hard,” he said.

Students even had to sign a release before embarking. Those with back problems or other impediments were prohibited from riding.

Inside, the school’s main lobby was lined with information tables on topics ranging from substance abuse and nutrition to Lyme disease awareness and sexual assault.

Sodexho, the district’s food service company, taught students more about the food pyramid and other nutrition information.

“The crime scene [outside the school] was important to show kids the reality of underage drinking,” said Alexa Vacaro, youth coordinator of the NO SUDS youth group.

She said she was also aiming to divert the stereotype that all high school aged students drink. “I have always been strongly opposed to underage drinking,” she said.

According to Nina Allred of Newtown Youth Services, Alexa continued, “Nationwide, 60 percent of students ages 12 to 17 have never had an [alcoholic] drink in their lives!”

NO SUDS’ theme this year is “You Can Choose Not To Use.”

The NO SUDS information table included information on underage drinking statistics, alcohol and the law, and other consequences of underage drinking.

Last year, for example, Newtown passed a town ordinance imposing fines when minors are in possession of alcohol on private property.

The week of May 9–16 was officially declared “Stop Underage Drinking Week In Newtown” by First Selectman Herb Rosenthal during a May 10 community forum, “But It’s Only Beer…Everything You Need to Know about Alcohol and the Law,” co-sponsored by the Parent Connection and NO SUDS.

J.B. Tomassetti, executive secretary of the state’s Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association (NEOA), and John Fournier, training coordinator of the NEOA, helped students learn more about the dangers of illegal substance use.

“Heroin use is pretty high right now throughout New England,” Officer Tomassetti said in response to a remark on Newtown’s reputed high rates of heroin use. “It’s everywhere.”

“It’s important to learn about the drugs that are out there,” said student Brian Danzinger. “The health fair is a great way for students to get all kinds of valuable information on how to be safe.”

District Health Coordinator Judy Blanchard and school psychologist Pam Crowcroft distributed information on the dangers of smoking, including a survey on smoking habits.

Questions included how often the student smoked, whether they had ever been caught smoking at school, whether their friends smoked, if they had ever tried to quit, and if they would like to quit.

Student smokers had the opportunity to sign up for a Smoke Enders class, taught by the members of the district’s Prevention Council.

Also included was a question of what a student would prefer, taking an hour-long smoking education class (not Smoke Enders) or a two-hour detention for being caught smoking at school.

“We are really trying to find out the level of interest students have in antismoking education,” said Ms Blanchard.

Students who took the survey also had the opportunity to enter a raffle to win a dinner for two at Outback Steak House in Danbury.

Newtown’s Director of Health Donna McCarthy taught students about tick safety and Lyme disease. “It’s estimated that 25 percent of Newtown’s ticks are Lyme disease carriers,” said Ms McCarthy.

“One message we really want to get out there,” she continued, “is the importance of checking yourself for ticks every day.”

Free distribution of bright green Frisbees encouraging students to do daily tick-checks were snatched up within the fair’s first hour.

Ms McCarthy also handed out brochures about the “growing public health threat” that covered information from the deer tick life cycle to proper tick removal. Students also learned the early symptoms of Lyme disease.

Megan O’Connell of the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury raised student awareness of sexual assault, domestic violence, and sexual harassment.

“It’s estimated that 97 percent of women who report sexual assault are telling the truth,” asserted Ms McConnell, debunking the commonly held perception that many women make up or embellish their stories.

Joseph Young of Village Eyecare was enjoying his first Newtown High School Health Fair.

“About 25 percent of school-aged children don’t realize they have visual problems,” he said. His goal, he continued, was to raise awareness about the different vision problems students could have. “The excuse about being unable to do homework because of a headache can actually prove legitimate,” he said.

More activity bustled in the school’s gymnasium. Students had the opportunity to measure their resting heart rate and body mass index (BMI).

A resting heart rate of about 60–75 beats per minute is considered very healthy. Anything over 90 is a definite concern.

“The higher the resting heart rate, the harder the heart has to work to function,” explained physical education teacher Kathy Davey.

A healthy BMI for women is 18 to 25 percent, men, 12 to 20 percent.

Students also had the opportunity to learn basic yoga postures from Kathleen Barton of the Graceful Planet dance studio of Sandy Hook. “This fall we will be having a special ‘hip class’ for preteens,” she said, “covering hip-hop and other areas of dance and movement.”

A local Pilates instructor, Pat Babbage, was also on hand to teach students about basic strengthening exercises.

Tim Crowley, a Newtown High School athletic trainer from Church Hill Physical Therapy and Sports Rehabilitation, offered students the chance to learn more about becoming an athletic trainer.

“So far we haven’t much of a response,” he said. “Last year we had about 30 kids interested. But it’s still early.” Mr Crowley added that he would be available all week for students interested in learning more about becoming a trainer.

“We really try to bring together all aspects of health and wellness, from nutrition to physical fitness to learning about substance abuse, for our health fair,” said school nurse Dee Cupole. “The aim is really prevention.”

The event was organized by the Newtown High School Career Club, Career Center, Health Department, Physical Education department, school nurses, Newtown Food Services, SADD, NO SUDS, Newtown Youth Services, Health Coordinator Ms Blanchard, and Newtown Youth Officer Dana Schubert.