Good morning dear families! Mrs. Maza here to let you know about a health challenge that the 4th graders are doing. Hopefully your children have already talked to you about it, but I wanted to provide you with some more details (or maybe explain it the first time for those who haven't heard). In the fall I received information about the Walk-On Challenge sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield for all 4th and 5th graders in Arizona, and thought it would be fun to participate. They are offering 10-$2500 grants for schools who complete the application and complete the program. So, just by participating and charting, we will get our name in the drawing for one of those grants! The goal is just to increase awareness of the effects of the choices we make with regard to diet and exercise. I plan to participate along with the kids!

Here are the goals:
5 - Eat five servings of fresh fruits and vegetables (recommended 2 fruit and 3 vegetable servings)
2 - Limit your screen time to under two hours (TV, internet, iPads, phones, etc)
1 - Get one hour of physical activity every day (This one is the challenge for me! Does teaching 31 10-year olds all day count?!!!)
0 -  Don't drink any sugary drinks - stick to water (Thankfully, parents can still choose adult beverages!)

Each child received a chart to take home. They should fill it out each day, checking off which goals they met. If they have a soda on the weekend, or watch too much TV, that's okay, they just don't check next to that item. Every morning we will make a tally in the classroom and fill out our class chart. This starts TODAY! Please remind them to keep track and help them by supplying those fruits and veggies and limiting the sugary drinks. 👍

Thank you for your support of this. I know it's a long-shot to win the grant, but it's fun and we could all make healthier choices.

I just wanted to say thank you to the kids for helping me celebrate my birthday at the park yesterday! I don't think I've ever had so many people singing to me all at once! It was quite a treat, as well as a surprise. I appreciate this community so much and am blessed to be celebrating my 10th year with you as well as my _____th birthday tomorrow! Have a fabulous weekend!