K21 Gives $50K Grant To WCS For Fitbits
January 26, 2021 at 11:51 p.m.
K21 Gives $50K Grant To WCS For Fitbits
By Staff Report-
Through the grant provided by the K21 Health Foundation, WCS fifth-grade students will have the opportunity to stay active and healthy. Every fifth-grade student will receive a brand new Fitbit Ace 2, according to a news release from WCS.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that education providers have significant opportunities to establish healthy activity habits in children. This is important because habits formed early in life can track into adulthood. In addition, the CDC states, “Healthy lifestyle habits, including healthy eating and physical activity, can lower the risk of becoming obese. Schools play a particularly critical role by establishing a safe and supportive environment that supports healthy behaviors. Schools also provide opportunities for students to learn about and practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors.”
WCS' vision is to continue increasing student and staff wellness, along with their physical activity, in a fun and non-threatening way that will promote sustainable change and promote healthy living. Owning a Fitbit is a unique wellness-supporting activity that is being made accessible to all WCS fifth-grade students, teachers and elementary principals. Fitbits are mobile resources, so participants have the ability to use them at school and at home.
WCS has been working with INGUARD, in collaboration with Fitbit, to develop a partnership that would allow teachers and students to receive ongoing support throughout the semester. Throughout the spring 2021 semester, INGUARD will develop and create content and new challenges that are appropriate for fifth-graders, which will increase their access to wellness opportunities. WCS hopes that while being more aware of their own physical activity and participating in competitions with their peers, students and staff will naturally become more physically active, stated the release.
“WCS is so excited to partner with K21 Health Foundation and INGUARD to provide a new method of promoting healthy living and physical activity. Our fifth-graders are going to be learning lifelong skills in a fun and educational environment,” said WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert. “We are thankful to K21 and their continued community support in creating a healthy community.”
“The feedback from parents and teachers has been overwhelmingly supportive,” stated Krista Polston, WCS grants and special projects coordinator. “This is one of the first projects of its kind and we couldn’t be more excited to pilot this model in hopes of continuing the project in future years.”
The initiative began in December, when fifth-grade students and teachers selected their devices, and fifth-graders’ families were also given the opportunity to purchase discounted devices of their own. The devices arrived in January and were distributed to all students. The Fitbit application was pushed out to each students’ device in order to allow students to track their daily physical activity. Throughout the rest of the semester, students and staff will participate in monthly challenges within “circles” of classrooms, peers and buildings, according to the release.
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Through the grant provided by the K21 Health Foundation, WCS fifth-grade students will have the opportunity to stay active and healthy. Every fifth-grade student will receive a brand new Fitbit Ace 2, according to a news release from WCS.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that education providers have significant opportunities to establish healthy activity habits in children. This is important because habits formed early in life can track into adulthood. In addition, the CDC states, “Healthy lifestyle habits, including healthy eating and physical activity, can lower the risk of becoming obese. Schools play a particularly critical role by establishing a safe and supportive environment that supports healthy behaviors. Schools also provide opportunities for students to learn about and practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors.”
WCS' vision is to continue increasing student and staff wellness, along with their physical activity, in a fun and non-threatening way that will promote sustainable change and promote healthy living. Owning a Fitbit is a unique wellness-supporting activity that is being made accessible to all WCS fifth-grade students, teachers and elementary principals. Fitbits are mobile resources, so participants have the ability to use them at school and at home.
WCS has been working with INGUARD, in collaboration with Fitbit, to develop a partnership that would allow teachers and students to receive ongoing support throughout the semester. Throughout the spring 2021 semester, INGUARD will develop and create content and new challenges that are appropriate for fifth-graders, which will increase their access to wellness opportunities. WCS hopes that while being more aware of their own physical activity and participating in competitions with their peers, students and staff will naturally become more physically active, stated the release.
“WCS is so excited to partner with K21 Health Foundation and INGUARD to provide a new method of promoting healthy living and physical activity. Our fifth-graders are going to be learning lifelong skills in a fun and educational environment,” said WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert. “We are thankful to K21 and their continued community support in creating a healthy community.”
“The feedback from parents and teachers has been overwhelmingly supportive,” stated Krista Polston, WCS grants and special projects coordinator. “This is one of the first projects of its kind and we couldn’t be more excited to pilot this model in hopes of continuing the project in future years.”
The initiative began in December, when fifth-grade students and teachers selected their devices, and fifth-graders’ families were also given the opportunity to purchase discounted devices of their own. The devices arrived in January and were distributed to all students. The Fitbit application was pushed out to each students’ device in order to allow students to track their daily physical activity. Throughout the rest of the semester, students and staff will participate in monthly challenges within “circles” of classrooms, peers and buildings, according to the release.
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