Over the years, schools around the nation have been approaching student health in new ways – such as altering lunch menus and improving physical education programs. Dublin City Schools took it to the next level six years ago by implementing a staff wellness program.
“We really led school districts within the state,” says staff wellness coordinator and Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer Stephen Osborne. Osborne has managed the program since it started.
Each school year starts off with a biometric screening process for any staff members who want to participate. About two-thirds – or 1,200 members – of staff sign up for the program each year, Osborne says. This screening looks at cholesterol, weight, body mass and other factors. Participants can compare their results from year to year, and see where they’ve improved.
“We’ve identified (for) many folks … conditions they weren’t aware of,” Osborne says. “Folks will come up and thank us; they didn’t realize their cholesterol or their blood sugar was high. They start taking medication, and they save money.”
The staff wellness program organizes several activities throughout the school year, including an Amazing Race-inspired challenge around Historic Dublin in October. The district also works with area gyms to offer savings for anyone who participates in the program, and sponsors 5Ks, Zumba and other fitness classes.
Workout to Wellness is another staff favorite. Teams log their exercise minutes January through March and turn in their sheets each week to win prizes. Individuals pay $5 to participate, and each year, half of the funds raised go to a designated charity.
“There’s always a theme to it,” Osborne says. “It’s a nice program for whatever your exercise level is. It encourages our staff to be active, especially during the winter months.”
Susan Jacoby, a health teacher at Davis Middle School, has been involved with the program from the start. She always looks forward to Workout for Wellness.
“Personally, it motivates me to work out on a consistent basis. It takes place in the winter months, when we all tend to be more sedentary. It’s a friendly competition that also promotes staff unity.”
The staff wellness program also gives staff the opportunity to participate in something they might not have time to do on their own.
“It builds teamwork and gives them a chance to play and work together,” Osborne says. “There’s also increased awareness – fitness nutrition, stress relief. We’re trying to hit all of those areas that we know are a concern for our staff.”
Not only does the program have positive effects on the staff, but Osborne thinks there’s an impact on the students as well.
“They see their teachers talking about health and fitness, and they see how they’re living it,” Osborne says.
Jacoby agrees.
“Taking care of my personal health increases my physical and mental well-being,” she says. “That, in turn, makes me a better, more enthusiastic educator. It’s important for our students to see that wellness is a lifelong process.
In the future, Osborne says he’d like to expand the current programming by building more relationships with Dublin’s corporate community.
“We’re always looking for new ideas,” Osborne says. “We want to keep it fresh.”
Starting Early
Physical education has evolved in Dublin City Schools
Healthy habits shouldn’t be treated as a fad; any health expert will tell you they should be implemented into your lifestyle. Dublin City Schools work hard to help students adopt this mindset early on through its physical education programs.
“We are always trying to be innovative and create new games,” says Traci Grissom, who teaches physical education at Scottish Corners Elementary School. “We like to use different equipment.”
The days of dodgeball and a mandatory mile are long gone. The goal of physical education classes, Grissom says, is to explore and create body awareness through activities such as gymnastics. Thanks to new state assessments, schools are also touching on healthful eating during physical education classes.
“We’re making them aware of healthy choices versus unhealthy choices and encouraging kids to talk to each other about what they had as a snack that day, things like that,” Grissom says.
The push to lead a healthy lifestyle extends beyond curriculum. There are two jump rope teams at the elementary and middle schools – one is more activity-based, the other is a competition team, Grissom says. All the schools have running clubs, and students enrolled in the adapted physical education program go on field trips where they can participate in physical activity catered to their needs.
The school district has also partnered with the Dublin Community Recreation Center in order to offer community classes in the schools. These community classes include hip-hop dance, taekwondo and other popular fitness activities. Some of the high schools have yoga classes and, Grissom says, from time to time a yoga teacher will come in for the elementary school students.
“We’re just trying to make it fun so kids like activity outside of school,” Grissom says.
Hannah Bealer is an editor. Feedback welcome at hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com.
