NHS Slates Health Fair For Students

By Eliza Hallabeck

As Newtown High School students walked through the school’s lobby on Wednesday, May 27, they were greeted by this year’s Health Fair at the school.

Volunteers from both NHS and the community stood ready at booths to explain health awareness information to students as they passed through the lobby.

Jill Patterson, resident dietician for Chartwells, and NHS senior and an intern with Chartwells Alex Caracciolo were ready to share a game with students at one booth. Ms Patterson explained the game was created to help students better understand the concept behind a balanced meal. For breakfast, she explained, it is best to eat from three of the food groups on the food pyramid, while at lunch it is best to eat from all five.

“So this game is to reinforce that, so they will choose a balanced meal at lunch,” said Ms Patterson.

Newtown Youth & Family Services and the Newtown Prevention Council had a booth, and Jessi Zeigler with Newtown Youth & Family Services oversaw handing out pamphlets and flyers to the students.

NHS nurse Dee Cupole, who help coordinate the Health Fair with District Health Coordinator Judy Blanchard, had a booth waiting for students offering pamphlets on different topics, including skin cancer and sunscreen use.

Director of Health Donna Culbert and assistant Maureen Schaedler helped students visiting their booth understand tick-borne diseases, the need to check for ticks everyday, and the importance of washing hands and staying home when sick with a contagious disease.

Near the school’s gym, the Physical Education Department had Nintendo Wii stations set up along with a Dance Dance Revolution Game to help students understand heart rate.