Pirates forward Mathieu Darche plays street hockey with a student at the Health Fair

South Portland, Maine - On Thursday, May 21st, Pirates forward Mathieu Darche and Pirates broadcaster Greg Glynn participated in a Health Fair at Dyer Elementary School in South Portland. Darche emphasized the importance of a healthy lifestyle and taught the students how to play street hockey and.

“Healthy Me, Healthy ME” (Maine) is the focus of a school wide enrichment program at Dyer Elementary School. This theme was selected for the 2008-2009 year to support school goals of promoting healthy behaviors and sound decision making with respect to self and environment.

The huge “Health Fair” involved information booths, interactive activities, healthy snacks and family involvement. Pirates forward Mathieu Darche taught kids how to play hockey and about the importance of eating healthy. He also signed autographs for the over 200 kids at the event.

The event was an effort to raise awareness of statistics about healthy children in Maine and national policy issues related to environmental protection figured. The United Way of Greater Portland awarded the school a grant of $1,250 and the PTA committed additional financial support in the form of $3,000. On May 5, 2009 Dyer School received notification that the program was chosen by the Maine Governor’s Council on Physical Activity as a runner-up of a 2009 Maine Fitness Award.

More about the program…
The kick-off to the year included a special Harvest Lunch prepared in collaboration with the district’s food services team and a school wide fall field trip to Bradbury Mountain where hiking and observation of the natural environment was enhanced through pre-planned scavenger hunts.

Each month has targeted a special focus. Personal Safety and Wellness led the way in October. Basic first aid and personal hygiene were taught by the school nurse and other staff. During the same time period, the “Mileage Club” was established. During recess the children may choose to walk a pre-determined route where their personal cards are marked by parent volunteers. For every mile walked, the children receive a token to add to their necklaces. To date 100% of children have participated and their combined total of miles walked to date exceeds 4000 miles. Recent data shows a drastic reduction in recess discipline issues.

Nutrition was the school’s November focus. Food Play Productions instructed children on food ingredients and healthy eating choices. The month involved community partnerships: a nutritionist from Mercy Hospital visited classes and there were field trips to Hannaford where the “shining star” program was explained.

December involved a school wide community service project that showed children the value in caring for others in our community, Healthy ME (Maine). We collected toiletries for shelters.

January provided education about alternative forms of exercise and community members volunteered their time to introduce karate and various dance forms.

Dental health got everyone’s attention in February and March provided a special “Alternative to Screen” Tuesdays. For five weeks all staff hosted special activities in classrooms and children rotated through these, learning new games and activities to enjoy in lieu of video and other screen games.

April and May turned the attention of the students to the outdoors and the environment with children helping in community-based clean up projects and tending to our school’s landscaping needs.