On May 1st, the Raytown Quality School District gathered for the final Community Forum of the 2006-2007 school year. Despite a low parent turn-out, School Board President, Cathy Mack emphasized the importance of Community Forums, “The purpose of these community forums is to allow the District a way to reach out to parents and the community and allow them to be more involved in their student’s schools.” On this night, Marty Sadler, Nancy Coughenour, and Brian Bargmeyer were on hand to discuss the Health and Wellness of Raytown students and the programs that are currently in place in the district. Cathy Allie, the district’s Community Relations Coordinator, set the tone for the night stating that “The Raytown District has a commitment to our student’s health and wellness and the district is working with the National PTA, the National School Board Association to meet these objectives.”
The floor was handed over to Nancy Coughenour, Director of Food Services for Raytown Schools. Coughenour broke down the nutrition guidelines that the district implements which the USDA, the Health Department, and the State of Missouri regulate. As part of that regulatory compliance, the district does not serve foods of minimal or no nutritional value such as carbonated beverages and candy. The district also takes great strides to ensure that students are receiving ¼ of their Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) at breakfast and 1/3 of their RDA at lunch. Coughenour also discussed the ways the district are working to connect with parents regarding their student’s nutrition by allowing parents to access the nutritional information easily through the District’s website. From the District’s website, parents are also able to add money to their child’s meal plan and place restrictions on their child’s ala carte options.
Brian Bargmeyer, Elementary PE Teacher and Coordinator, was also there to discuss the causes and health risks of childhood obesity. In addition to developing health problems such as asthma, high blood pressure, Type II Diabetes, and Sleep Apenea, many overweight and obese children are at a high risk for low self-esteem, which often leads to depression. In order to combat these health issues the District is teaching students the importance of proper diet and food moderation and explaining why physical activity is essential.
Marty Sadler, Practical Arts Instruction Coach, followed Bargmeyer. Sadler discussed what the district is doing to educate students in regards to healthy living. She began with some startling statistics; the number of overweight children has doubled in the past 20 years and the number of overweight adolescents has tripled in the past 20 years, most likely because children are consuming an extra 80-230 calories per day than in the 1980s. As a district, Raytown is working hard to educate students about portion control and the importance of eating healthy. The district uses the USDA’s MyPyramid as a guide for students emphasizing the importance of not only eating healthy but of being active as well. One way Raytown Schools help students stay active is by requiring students to take physical education. In addition P.E., students in 8th grade are also required to take a Health class and in High School students are required to take Fitness Plus, a class that is team taught between P.E. and Health. It is in these Health classes that students are able to discuss such heavy topics as anorexia and bulimia. Sadler uses the metaphor of using a car care manual to take care of your car, illustrating to students the proper way to care for your body, explaining that “the food pyramid is like a care manual for your body.”
The night was best summed up by Dr. Georgetta May, Raytown Middle School principal when she said,“it is important that teachers and parents set an example for students,” and in the end that is what the Raytown Quality School district is working hard to accomplish.
- The Raytown Post -
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