School holds Health Fair

Health has been an issue lately on the minds of people and Jefferson Elementary will try to ease parents’ minds Thursday.
The school will hold its Great Kid Expo and Health Fair, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the school, 800 N. Louisa.
Counselor Serena Ward said parents and children will become aware of health concerns and will be able to make better choices. This fair is about educating both parents and children.
“We want to focus on families being as well as they can,” she said.
Principal Vickie Penson said schools should be a place where both parents and students can learn.
“Last year was such a big success, we had to do another one,” she said. “It’s getting the information out to them. That’s the most essential thing.”
Once the school can establish that relationship with the parents, then it’s easier to work as a team, Penson said.
“We have to have parents,” she said. “If we don’t work together, then we work against each other.”
Events, like the health fair, help establish communication between the school, parents and students, Penson explained.
This health fair has also helped students become more health conscious, she said.
“It’s made our kids aware of their own health,” Penson said.
One of the more popular events last year was the bicycle rodeo.
“We know the bicycle rodeo helps kids,” Ward said. “We know the blood pressure screenings and BMI screenings are helpful.”
First grade teacher Leslie Cappo helped design the bicycle rodeo, which she says was one of the more popular activities at last year’s fair.
“We try to talk about some simple bicycle safety issues,” she said. “We demonstrate how to signal, using the proper signals for a right turn, left turn and a stop.”
One reason Cappo helps with this event is because she is an avid rider and has been struck by a car while on a bike.
“I have been in a wreck where I landed on my head and if I wasn’t wearing a helmet, I wouldn’t be here talking to you,” she said.
At last year’s fair, staff administered more than 200 flu shots, BMI and blood pressure checks, provided diabetes education, drug and alcohol prevention, smoking cessation and mental health information. Other organizations also provided safety information, seat belt checks and dental health checks. This year, the flu shots will not be offered.
Ward said the school learned from last year’s event to make this one better.
The fair will be more friendly to children, she said, by adding more activities for the children.
“We really want to open our doors to the community and parents,” Ward said.
By doing this, the school can help parents communicate with their children’s teachers and their own children, she said.
“We want to bring parents into our school and develop those relationships,” Ward said.
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Josh Burton may be reached by calling 214-3926.