Students and teachers at St. Mary Community school welcomed visitors to their health fair March 17. The fair, with displays and activities set up in the gym as well as outside classrooms, was open to students and their parents in order to start a conversation.
"It's a way to get parents to see what their kids are learning and to get involved," said Grade 3 teacher Amy Noseworthy, adding, "hopefully it's a way to filter that information into the community."
Rather than a typical science fair, the staff decided on a health fair, with students presenting on topics ranging from the effects of smoking, exercise, nutrition and mental health. Noseworthy's Grade 3 class was given the topic of tobacco and had stations devoted to "how tobacco affects the lungs," and "how to say no to smoking," among others.
The health fair isn't a totally new idea, having been organized by St. Mary in past years, but it's one that Noseworthy and fellow teachers, Jennifer Gentes and Laurette Koshman, were eager to pick up again as the topics learned about are applicable to all students in their everyday lives.
And it's not just informational for younger students. Noseworthy said she found even she had learned during the process.
The ultimate goal for the event is to teach kids about healthy lifestyles, but also to open up a dialogue between families.
The health fair presents topics that kids "can talk to their parents about," said Noseworthy, who also shared that the feedback from students has been positive, with many talking to their parents about what they've learned.
The intended message of the health fair is something everyone can learn from.
Noseworthy is seemingly in agreement. "I think every school should do something like this," she said.
