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Northmont Middle School Lauded for Health Program

Posted on: Friday, 4 November 2005, 21:00 CST

By Lynn Minneman

Northmont Middle School recently received the highest level of recognition from the Governor's Buckeye Best Healthy Schools Award Program for their tobacco, nutrition and physical fitness education programs. The school was one of only two middle schools in Montgomery County to accomplish this.

The Governor's Buckeye Best Healthy Schools Award Program is part of a Healthy Ohioans initiative sponsored by a joint effort of the Ohio Department of Health and the American Cancer Society to recognize "schools whose policies and practices reflect a high priority on healthy outcomes for children."

A total of 84 counties were represented with 542 elementary, 191 middle and 204 high schools completing applications.

"We changed our curriculum in 2000 to better fit the kids' needs since obesity, diabetes and other childhood diseases are on the rise," said Jim Smith of Northmont's Health/PE Department.

"Since 2000, we have made a big difference in the students at Northmont."

"In 2000, we added a weight room/class room to our stage in the gym, and this past year the Dayton Heart Center donated over $20,000 of cardiovascular equipment."

Smith said students utilize this equipment to work out, and discussions on physical fitness and nutrition are incorporated into class time.

"We also test every eighthgrade student in their physical fitness by our TriFit machine that will tell the student what shape they are in with a cardiovascular test, height, weight, strength, flexibility and body composition," he said. "They have to work to improve their fitness levels."

Pedometers were also purchased for students to use during physical education class.

"The goal is for all students to get 3,000 to 4,000 steps in class," Smith said.

"We have worked hard to improve our program where schools are now using our health and physical education curriculum in their districts," he said.

According to Smith, the school has been the model for several years now.

"I have been to our state convention to speak about our program for three years running. What we are doing here at Northmont has benefited students."

Smith has recently completed a three-year study proving the benefits and said it should be published later this year. As part of the award, the school received a flag to display and recognition by the governor of Ohio.

Program on guiding gifted children

A program for parents will be presented by Dr. James Webb at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Miami Valley Career Technology Center, 6800 Hoke Road, Clayton.

Guiding the Gifted Child focuses on the social and emotional needs of gifted and talented children.

Webb has served on the board of directors for the National Association for Gifted Children and was president of the American Association for Gifted Children.

He is president of Great Potential Press, a publishing company specializing in books for parents and teachers to assist in guiding gifted learners.

Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.

When attending the workshop, enter through the door marked Student Activity Center and follow the signs to Room 179.

For more information, call Sis Litvin at 832-5900.

Students in the news

Northwest-area students who received degrees on Aug. 28 at the Schottenstein Center at Ohio State University were: Zachary Adam Kimble of Brookville, bachelor of arts degree; Jennifer L. Lapine of Clayton, bachelor of arts degree; Robin Marie Dodsworth of Englewood, doctorate in philosophy; Aaron Daniel McPherson of Union, bachelor of arts degree; and Pamela Joy Roberts of Union, master's degree in education.

- Shawn Bailey of Englewood recently received a Miami Valley Future Teacher Initiative Scholarship from Sinclair Community College in Dayton.

- Alyce Marie Aiken of Brookville, and Justin H. Bogard and Bradley Phillip Rutan, both of Englewood, were on the dean's list for the summer quarter at Ohio State University.

If you or a friend or relative recently achieved an honor, or your club or organization has an activity that would make interesting reading, call Lynn Minneman at 609-4152, e-mail her at mminneman2@woh.rr.com. or send a typewritten notice to: Neighbors, Dayton Daily News, 45 S. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH 45402.

Source: Dayton Daily News

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