| nd-color: #ffffff;" /> | | | | Atlanta Schools’ “Wellness” |
| Atlanta Schools’ “Wellness” | | | | Workshop Project is part of a broad program that |
| Workshops Promote Nutrition and Physical Education | | | | aims to provide both fitness and nutrition strategies |
| When Atlanta Schools opened at the end of August, | | | | for students and staff in all Atlanta Schools. |
| a new project was initiated. The | | | | Innovative strategies that will be used include yoga |
| “Wellness” Workshop Project kicked | | | | classes for teachers and students, vegetarian |
| off the school year with a workshop that included | | | | cafeteria lines, and walking trails. The overall plan was |
| Olympic gold medalist Gail Devers, author Yvonne | | | | developed by the Atlanta Schools’ Board of |
| Butler, 300 students from the Atlanta School District, | | | | Education. The Board of Education will offer guidelines |
| faculty members, and community leaders. This was | | | | on how to implement the program and how the |
| the first ever Atlanta Schools’ | | | | schools will be evaluated. |
| “wellness” workshop. Atlanta | | | | A major part of the plan is establishing wellness |
| Schools’ Margaret Fain Elementary | | | | councils. These councils will be comprised of teachers, |
| School’s Wings of Eagles dance troupe | | | | parents, administrators, students, and community and |
| performed to illustrate how much physical energy is | | | | business partners. The council will assist Atlanta |
| used in dance. | | | | Schools in integrating nutrition and physical education |
| The first “Wellness” Workshop was | | | | into the current curriculum. The wellness council will |
| co-chaired by Dr. Marilyn Hughes, the director of | | | | also have a presence at events throughout the |
| nutrition administration for Atlanta Schools, and Billette | | | | Atlanta Schools. |
| Owens-Ashford, Atlanta Schools’ director of | | | | Recently, Atlanta Schools’ wellness plan |
| physical education and athletics. The goal of the | | | | received a boost from the involvement of an Atlanta |
| “Wellness” Workshop Project is | | | | Schools’ parent. Linton Hopkins has two |
| improve the health of the students by identifying | | | | children attending E. Rivers Elementary School. |
| health-related problems. It has been proven that | | | | Hopkins is concerned about the nutritional value of |
| health related issues can often have a direct affect | | | | cafeteria offerings at the E. Rivers Elementary School |
| on a student’s academic achievement. | | | | but unlike other parents, Hopkins is the executive |
| The inaugural “Wellness” Workshop | | | | chef of Atlanta’s Restaurant Eugene and |
| for the Atlanta Schools had a variety of speakers | | | | winner of this year’s Atlanta “Iron |
| and displays that provided resources on nutritional | | | | Chef” competition. Hopkins has joined the |
| based activities and physical education activities. The | | | | Local School Wellness Council to help evaluate the |
| keynote speaker was Dr. Yvonne Butler. Dr. Butler is | | | | school’s cafeteria. Hopkins isn’t the |
| a noted author whose book, “Healthy Kids, | | | | only trained chef to join the E. Rivers Elementary |
| Smart Kids,” discusses the impact of diet and | | | | School’s wellness council. Elisa Gambino, |
| exercise on learning and academic performance. | | | | owner of pasta emporium Via Elisa, has along with |
| Other speakers included Olympic track-and-field gold | | | | eleven other parents joined the wellness council. |
| medalist Gail Severs who spoke about importance of | | | | Parental involvement is an important element to the |
| exercise to health and how to stay physically fit. | | | | success of the wellness councils. |