Over 900 students—90% of our population—took part in WMS’s 2nd Health Fair today. Seventeen local agencies volunteered their time to talk with students, do interactive demos, and hand out literature. Among many activities available, the students spoke with representatives from SPS nutrition services, got an update on cyberbullying, talked relationships with “Get Real”, tested their balance with Children’s Hospital staff, worked out with the Casey foundation, and answered questions on a scavenger sheet handed out by their science classes.
Our health fair is an endangered species for next year: the District has eliminated Health from the middle school course selection and laid off the District’s Health Department director. This unbelievable and short-sighted decision is another indication of the District’s run away from educating the whole child. Middle school students particularly are vulnerable to dis-information on health, drugs, tobacco, reproduction, and decision-making, and they are going to lose the chance to discuss these in a structured school setting with a trained, professional educator. If this bothers you, contact your grade level counselor or go straight to your school board representative.