1,310 participants challenged themselves to eat right, get fit and embrace a healthier lifestyle
[April 12, 2011]
 MANSFIELD, TX - As part of its commitment to improve the health of the communities it serves, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center partnered with Mansfield ISD to challenge school principals to a 12-week wellness challenge. The Principals' Fitness Challenge, which began in October, helped administrators, staff, students and teachers take steps toward living a healthier lifestyle by increasing their physical activity and improving nutrition.
On Friday, April 8, the top performing schools were announced, and Methodist Mansfield presented a total of $5,000 to Principals Elizabeth Hostin at Martha Reid Elementary and Scott Shafer at Brooks Wester Middle School along with their teachers for winning the 12-week Principals' Fitness Challenge. The funds will be used by the schools to purchase ActivExpression Clickers for use with each the school's classroom technology upgrades.
The 12-week challenge by the numbers:
- 40 Mansfield ISD schools participated in the challenge inspiring teachers and students to improve their lives through proper nutrition and fitness
- 945 teachers and students walked 10,000 steps or more
- 515 teachers gave up sodas
- 742 teachers consistently moved more throughout the day
- 698 teachers reduced their portion sizes
“We are proud of the 1,310 participants who took steps to eat right, get fit and embrace a healthier lifestyle,” says President of Methodist Mansfield Medical Center Laura Irvine. “By sponsoring the Principals' Fitness Challenge 40 schools' principals inspired teachers and students to improve their lives through proper nutrition and fitness.”
Research supports that healthy schools create an environment where students can become fit, healthy, and ready to learn. A health conscious atmosphere helps students achieve their full academic potential and supports them in developing lifelong healthy behaviors.
“I am so proud of our principals, teachers, and employees who took the challenge and improved their health and wellness,” says Dr. Bob Morrison MISD Superintendent of Schools. “I thank Methodist Mansfield for providing this challenge and for helping our entire staff take steps to improve their health and wellness.”
Martha Reid Elementary School had nearly a dozen teachers lose weight in the challenge and many students now read food labels and are able to make better choices. At Brooks Wester Middle School teachers are rethinking their soda intake and teachers move more throughout the day and look forward to exercising.
The Principals' Fitness Challenge voluntarily challenged campus administrators to follow 12-weeks of fitness and wellness. “We are so pleased with the participation from the principals and teachers who joined in taking steps towards living a healthier lifestyle by increasing their physical activity and improving their nutrition,” says Tammy Beaumont, Director of the Methodist Weight Management Institute. “We look forward to continuing to work with them as they continue their journey to health and wellness.”
To learn more about the Principals' Fitness Challenge at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center visit http://www.methodisthealthsystem.org/PrincipalsFitnessChallenge |
