January began with a week of yummy tastings, demonstrations and hands-on learning, thanks to the Parent School Partnership’s Health Committee, co-chaired by Mindy Warshawsky and Leah Frankel, and the impressive programming that they organized.
Children in Early Childhood were treated to a multi-sensory presentation by Noam parents Shira Forman, Shulamit Holzer and Estee Hirsch, entitled Eating the Rainbow. The students learned how foods of various colors benefit different parts of the body. They made faces using fruits and vegetables and then “ate the rainbow” by eating their creations.
Students in the Elementary School learned about the importance of a diet rich in fiber. They gained knowledge about which foods are high in fiber and the differences between soluble and insoluble foods. The children enjoyed a “fiber fiesta” as they munched on samples of high fiber foods like tortilla chips, salsa and beans. Students also received a short anatomy lesson about how fiber is digested, which included an exciting demonstration using a balloon to represent the human stomach. Their music teacher, Morah Adina Mermelstein, helped to set the “tone” for health week by carving fruits and vegetables into musical instruments.
First and second graders enjoyed a workshop on bicycle safety, led by the Trauma/Surgical Critical Care and Injury Prevention Unit at Hackensack University Medical Center. The presentation included information about helmet and kneepad use, safe riding practices, and how to call for emergency assistance. Students in third through fifth grades participated in a workshop presented by New Jersey Safe Routes to School, which focused on the health benefits of walking and how to walk safely in our neighborhoods. Some important topics covered included driver behavior at crosswalks, yielding to cars, street signage and being adequately visible to drivers.
In the middle school, Yeshivat Noam parents who are experts in their fields led workshops and classes. Rena Zelig, Doctor of Clinical Nutrition, DCN, RDN gave a presentation about healthy breakfasts (students received high fiber cereal and fruit); Rachel Ashendorf, Certified Group Fitness Instructor, AFAA, led a fitness boot camp for the eighth grade girls; and Aviva Edelstein, who is completing her doctorate in education with a concentration in mindfulness and works as an educational consultant, spoke about the role of mindfulness in handling everyday stress and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Parent volunteers initiated, coordinated and led the programming.
