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Families Enjoy Fitness Fun Night at NAES

Pictured above:  Madeline Blackburn and Katie Evans enjoy eating dinner together at Family Fitness Fun Night at NAES.

More than two hundred people attended “Family Fitness Together:  Helping Ourselves and Helping Others” which was held at New Albany Elementary School (NAES) on Thursday, May 20.  The purpose of the Family Fitness Night was to promote health awareness, fitness ideas, proper nutrition, family togetherness, and community involvement.

The Family Fitness Night included a health fair, family fitness activities, a chicken strip dinner, and a silent auction.  The health fair was sponsored by Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County, Baptist HealthPlex, Mississippi State University Extension Service, Anytime Fitness, and Mississippi Department of Health.

Height, weight, BMI, bone density screenings, blood pressure checks, and nutrition education was provided to participants at no cost.  Lab work for cholesterol profile and blood sugar was provided at a minimal cost.

Fitness activities were held in the Physical Education Building to showcase equipment and supplies that were purchased with funds from the John D. Bower School Health Network and Carol M. White Physical Education Grants.  Students and their families enjoyed using the Dance Dance Revolution, playing ping-pong, playing basketball, and using jump ropes and hoola hoops. 

To promote family togetherness, meals were available for purchasing in the school cafeteria and families were encouraged to eat together.  The dinner included chicken strips, cheesy potatoes, broccoli salad, fruit cup, and wheat roll.  In addition, themed baskets were available for bidding in a silent auction.  More than $2,000.00 was raised from the chicken dinner fundraiser and the silent auction.  All proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. 

“Our schools have been fortunate to receive the John D. Bower School Health Network Grant and the Carol M. White Physical Education Grant,” said Tammie Reeder, School Health Coordinator.  “These two grants have been great assets to our school district in the areas of health and fitness.”
 
Reeder added that the grants promote family togetherness and community involvement.  “We understand that if our children are going to have healthy lifestyle habits it is important to get families involved in helping the schools promote the importance of proper nutrition and physical activity.”

“Family and community involvement are extremely important in the success of our schools,” said Lecia Stubblefield, Director of Curriculum & Federal Programs.  “That is why we continue to provide various ways for families and communities to be involved in promoting academic success, good health, and physical fitness.”

“Family Night was a perfect outing for my family of five,” said Eydie Pullman, whose three children attend NAES.  “We ate a yummy, healthy dinner and played family friendly games.  Who knew we could have so much fun at our local elementary school?”  Pullman added that her family enjoyed dining, exercising, and spending quality time together while raising funds for a very worthy cause.  

Pictured below:  Alison Laney plays ball with daughters Abby (left) and Emma (right) during Family Fitness Night at NAES.

Pictured below:  Tarver Reeder, a Junior at New Albany High School, teaches elementary students how to play Dance Dance Revolution.