Brownwood ISD’s Student Health Advisory Council (SHAC) has been working to help make students and their families healthier. A new project established this year was Active For A Lifetime, where activities — from gardening to juggling or bike riding — earn points for participants and a winner is announced in September. While the clock is counting down on this year’s program, the sunny, hot summer provides ample time to earn points and begin maintaining an active lifestyle.
“Our main goal was to get people up, moving, and active,” Helen Lacy, the Nursing Supervisor for BISD, said. “We want to help people start the battle and keep track for them.” Active For A Lifetime participants sign up on the BISD website, fill out point forms for each activity, and sheets are turned in electronically or to the Central Office on the first of each month. Students, teachers, administrators, parents, brothers or sisters and cousins are all invited to participate and help Brownwood become more active. “We encourage physical activity as a lifestyle and not just weight loss or a specific diet,” Lacy said. “The goal is a healthy body and healthy body weight for all.”
The website states that points are awarded for numerous physical activities, lowering body mass index and long distance events. The “Activity Points” page gives participants an idea of how many calories are burned per activity, based on an average weight. This helps participants know how even daily chores like bathing a dog, playing darts or horseshoes, and bagging grass can help burn off burgers and pizza. Keeping track of points helps participants not only see the results on paper, but see the physical proof as their lives change for the better. All forms are available online; simply visit the homepage (www.brownwoodisd.org) and click on the “Active For A Lifetime” link in the Shortcuts column on the left.
This summer is as good a time as any to start counting down the calories and adding up points; and if you can jump on a trampoline, you can earn points. September 1st is the last day to turn in point sheets before next year’s program begins. The SHAC will be busy planning more projects to help students and the community achieve better health, nutrition and exercise, encouraging the community to become active. “Setting a new path is not always easy. We need others for encouragement,” Lacy said. “Get involved! Support and challenge each other. We would love to see teachers, students, businesses and organizations battling it out to be the winner.”
