Articles

St. Benedict wins Steelers Fun Day

Category: Lifestyle Published on Tuesday, 03 July 2012 09:49 Written by Courier Newsroom

The children and teaching staff of St. Benedict The Moor Catholic School, in the Hill District, enjoyed a day of fun in the sun. The staff and students were awarded a Steelers School Fun Day after completing all six steps of the program by May 1. The H.J. Heinz Co. Foundation funded Fuel Up to Play 60 at St. Benedict through a collaborative effort with Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, as part of the Fuel Up to Play 60 program. This is a program created by the National Dairy Council and the National Football League. In keeping in step with the First Lady Michelle Obama’s Healthy Kids initiative, which advocates that 60 minutes a day of activity and nutrient-rich foods that are missing from kids’ diets, can make a positive change in their daily lives.

FUN WITH THE STEELERS—Top photo: Students are getting ready to have fun. Middle photo: Kids enjoying bike race. Bottom photo: Nikki and Totiyana Bey, 8, with Ronald Butler and Alya Payne, 9, have fun with a poster of Ryan Clarke of the Steelers. (Photos by Rossano P. Stewart)

During Steelers Fun Day at St. Benedict, students and parents were able to participate in a fun array of games such as, the interactive DJ for a great dance contest, the inflatable obstacle course, team bike races, football, creative painting and trivia.

“This day is a very exciting day for the children and staff at St. Benedict The Moor Catholic School today,” said Betty Bedar, School Marketing Manager, Mid-Atlantic Diary Association. “They won this event from Elf Entertainment, based on their participation in the Fuel Up to Play 60 Program and their program advisor completed all six steps for them to win.”

The youth-led program enables children and teens to take charge of their health and work with school leaders to create more opportunities for daily physical activity and to make available more healthy foods. Since more than 50 percent of a student's daily calories are consumed at school, the school environment is an ideal setting for teaching these healthy habits.

Play 60 is based on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommends consumption of nutrient-rich foods (such as low fat-free diary, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meals), along with 60 minutes of physical activity a day.

Karen Hall, former NCAA Women's Basketball Coach, now Program Advisor for St. Benedict, was on hand to coordinate the event and said, “There are six steps throughout the year to participate, starting with the kickoff, the building of a Play 60 team, and then we engage in a lot of nutritional play and physical activity play based on the Play 60 Program. We are fortunate to win in the drawing, because that's what you do, your program is entered into a drawing. A great win for all in the community and the kids get to have fun and learn more about proper healthy living.”