Wellness Month: Lakeview Elementary students focus on health throughout February

NEGAUNEE -- Lakeview Elementary School students kicked off their Walk Across America last week, with each class participating in a half an hour of walking through the school corridors as a part of Wellness Month.

Local marathon runner Neal Collick, a former Lakeview student, spoke at an all-school assembly before participating in the walk Wednesday along with the students, Lakeview Principal Julie Peterson said.

Walk Across America aims to promote overall health and wellness through a variety of activities.

More than 600 students will participate in the month-long inaugural event, from the 3- to 5-year-olds in the Early Childhood Special Education program all the way up to fourth grade. Students can choose to walk during two daily recess periods.

"As we work through the month, on certain days of the week classes have the opportunity," Peterson said. "If they don't want to go outside in the cold, they can walk and count their laps during one of their recess times."

There will be a large map of the United States in the cafeteria, Peterson said, where the laps of each class throughout the month will be logged with footprints.

Students will be able to see their progress every day when they go to lunch.

Peterson said the month has an overall focus on all aspects of what makes a person healthy, not just nutrition and exercise.

"It's important to learn to be happy and healthy," Peterson said. "Focusing on exercise and nutrition and starting on that young is probably the best for our students."

Other wellness activities will include a Friendship Festival, allowing students to learn about on various aspects of social and mental health, including the ability to laugh.

"We have Double Trouble coming, because laughing is good medicine," Peterson said.

Peterson said the Double Trouble D.J. company is one of the sponsors of the month-long event. Other sponsors include the Lakeview Parent Teacher Partnership, Paisano's Pizza, Bell Auxiliary, The Vierling, Fox Negaunee, Meyer Family Vision, Tino's, McDonalds and the Irontown Association, Peterson said.

Each student will receive a T-shirt, at no charge, commemorating the month's events with the sponsors listed on the back, Peterson said.

The students will also participate in Fitness Friday activities, where they will be given a choice of six different half-hour activities such as Zumba-style dance, yoga, nutrition, building snow people to decorate the exterior entrance of the school -- or students can do laps.

Peterson said both students and staff will benefit from the month-long experience.

"I think just participating in it together -- just building that group effort into something. It's not a competition, it's an effort to succeed together," Peterson said.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.