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Testimonials
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I have been using Healthy Highway in my PE program for grades K-2 since 2005 and I love how it helps me to set up the rules for the school year. Classroom teachers reinforce the rules and students love the chance to earn their “PE license”. During our parent nights, parents often come to the gym to see what all the excitement is about! The traffic signals are a great way to symbolize the rules and students make the connection easily. I have used many of the lessons included in the activity guide, including Traffic Bingo and the Safety Treasure Hunt and those activities help to reinforce the hand signals and the rules since students have hands-on experience with the traffic sings. In addition, I am beginning to add the Healthy Rules of the Road as part of our “North Park Fit Kids” program this year that encourages healthy snack choices during “Wellness Wednesdays”. Thanks for this great program! M Robelee North Park Elementary School *********************************** We are excited to be in our second year of the Healthy Highway program. This year we have added another component by adding the school counselor and social worker to the "team". Various classes have demonstrated their understanding of making healthy food and exercise choices by creating posters and writing informational pieces about different foods, and ways to keep our bodies healthy. Students have shared and performed these at assemblies or over our morning announcements. This year some second grade students used the platform of making healthy choices as a way to engage in authentic procedural, functional, and persuasive writing. This project included students identifying a healthy snack, writing a recipe for the construction of the snack, writing an ingredient list for our cafeteria manager, and writing a persuasive announcement to read over the school-wide announcement. In addition, students made and served their snack in the cafeteria. Parents have also supported the program through their attendance at a Healthy Family Night. Healthy Highway is definitely a valuable program and has been an accessible way for us to engage students in thinking about and talking about the healthy choices they are making in their life.
Sincerely,
K Zodarecky Principal English Village Elementary School Rochester, NY
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EduCare before and after-school has been using the Healthy Highway program since September 2008. One of the great things about this program is how easy it is to weave into the other aspects of our day. Once we began to use the program we soon found it was easy to adapt and create new activities to meet and hold the interest of our pre-k to 5th grade participants. We now have a Healthy Choice Challenge, similar to a reading log, for students to record their progress. We play Healthy Highway Bingo, Password, and Memory with the laminated food cards. Younger children created a Healthy Highway Floor map out of roll paper and play on it with Hot Wheel cars. In the gym we play tag using the rules of the road and safety signs. The possibilities seem endless and our staff is using their imagination to think of new games and activities everyday. It is easy, fun and best of all, staff and children love the activities.
R Ward EduCare Coordinator Office of Community Education
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The Healthy Highway program is a great way to integrate nutrition into your Physical Education class! I teach at a K-2 building and have included the Healthy Highway program in my curriculum for two years. The program, with its road signs and driving "lingo", make it easy for the students to have an immediate connection to the concepts we are addressing. The lessons provided are easy to understand and implement in my gymnasium. I have also enjoyed creating my own lessons revolving around the red, yellow and green light foods. The Healthy Highway program is a great approach to teaching healthy choices - the kids love it and I have enjoyed adding it to my program.
S Holtz English Village Elementary Rochester, NY
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Dear Wendy, I want to let you know how much I am enjoying our first year of the English Village Healthy Highway! The students are so excited to share all their information with me. I have received letters about healthy choices. One class brought in posters illustrating the food groups. They’ve visited me while doing their “breakfast surveys”. The program has provided me with a clear, child friendly vocabulary to use when discussing minor accidents and illnesses, especially tummy aches caused by an empty fuel tank! Your Family Night was a huge success, obviously enjoyed by the students and their families who attended. More than one parent happily told me that their children were asking for more fruits to try at home after sampling new choices at Family Night. The children loved exercising with their parents, too! The colorful, imaginative visuals throughout our hallways are wonderful reminders that we are all traveling together on the Healthy Highway. I wish you continued success with this excellent program. Sincerely, C Callaghan RN School Nurse English Village Elementary School *********************************** Vibrant and enthusiastic presenter, talented and knowledgeable in delivering her quality program is descriptors about Wendy Cooper of Healthy Highway. Two Doors Community Resource Center, Inc. has worked with Wendy for the past two years. We hired her to provide leadership and training to help us implement our “Making Healthy Choices” commitment in all of our programs. She brings years of experience working with children to develop healthy habits. Her skills with working with our children and their parents and siblings are exceptional. At each Family Night event Wendy developed and presented an active, motivating and important program promoting nutrition and exercise. She works closely with our staff and has trained them to continue the program on their own. She works collaboratively with us to design what we need while weaving in the Healthy Highway theme that is easy for our families and kids to remember and fun to do. The success of Healthy Highway for us is that it is easy to build upon and reinforce with our kids in our day to day program. Donna Hutchinson, President Two Doors Community Resource Center Rochester, NY ************************************ I have been the head chef at many of the finest restaurants in Rochester but when I met Wendy Cooper I started what would be the most important job I have had.
After meeting Wendy for the first time we brainstormed all that day and have not stopped since. One year later we have collaborated on the most important journey of our careers. Our mission- to educate at risk kids on the benefits of healthy eating and lifestyles. We teach kids and families through dynamic meals, hands on teachings and exciting activities all tying to a monthly theme. The kids are engaged and soaking in all we have taught.
We are point blank changing the dynamic of these kids eating, thinking, and physical activity levels. I do know this is THE MOST important job I will ever have. Wendy and I have a passion about changing the childhood obesity problem. This program is the most effective tool we can use. Wendy Cooper is the pioneer spearheading this most important mission. We must spread this program one child and family at a time until our entire nation has been positively impacted by this great program.
Chef T Bertrand (L1 certified) *********************************** Healthy Highway skillfully weaves key Brain Gym ® skills and concepts into the fabric of its activities. By utilizing this time-proven learning readiness tool, the relationship between movement and learning is honored and the effectiveness of the curriculum greatly enhanced. T Quigley, M.S. Licensed Brain Gym® Instructor/Trainer www.braingym.org *********************************** Healthy Highway is the perfect curriculum for those aspiring to become quality physical educators. Your students will enjoy learning about healthy eating habits and the importance of being safe on the highway while staying actively involved through movement. K Bias *********************************** Below are testimonials from conferences that Healthy Highway has attended: * I can see how much fun my students would have doing Healthy Highway.
* Great session. Wendy was a great presenter.
* This gives me a base to teach nutrition.
* These are really good visuals and the kids will remember the signs.
* The most valuable thing from the workshop were alal the new ideas.
* Wendy's passion shines through!
* The presentation was not only intersting but it was very interactive and gave a great idea of how Healthy Highway would look in a physical education setting.
* Great idea - I look forward to using it in my future career.
Healthy Highway
c/o Wendy Cooper
123 Eileen Drive
Rochester, NY 14616
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