SEARCY — Hands were held high, waving wildly. Students were anxious to answer and take part. Heads were bobbing. Who are these youngsters? They are Unity Kids. Searcy elementary school third-graders were taking part in an innovative Ambassador Program to encourage healthy living and build leaders.
Students had just been read the tip of the week, “Watch for cars at the bus stop.” Discussion and hints on how to do this and bus-safety rules were talked about by the students in LeAnne Petty’s class at Westside Elementary School.
The 22 students in the class were enthusiastic and attentive, and they came up with some practical ideas regarding safety when being picked up or let out at school.
Each week, third-grade classes at Sidney Deener, McRae and Westside elementary schools — about 400 students in all — hear a healthy tip from their Ambassador of the Week; then discussion takes place on that tip. The ambassador wears a bright, different-colored T-shirt inscribed with “Unity Kid Health Centered.”
The program is the brainchild of Unity Health at Searcy.
“Unity Health strives to create a healthy community, and what better place to start than in our own children through a program called ‘Unity Kids,’” said Anna Brumfield, event/foundation specialist in Unity Health’s marketing department. “The program focuses on educating the children in our local schools to live health-centered physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We believe that instilling in our children [the skills] to live healthy lifestyles at a young age will help them develop healthy habits for life.
“Our mission is to make it simple to give kids in our communities
the knowledge they need to be health-centered and thrive.”
The program kicked off a few weeks ago with a visit to the schools from Unity Health’s KC Koala, a favorite of children.
“The Searcy School District is excited about this partnership and thanks Unity Health for its commitment to our students, staff and community,” said Betsy Bailey, school and community coordinator for the Searcy Public
Schools.
After 30 tips are given during the school year, third-graders will each write an essay of at least 100 words describing what being health-centered means to them and how they can achieve a healthy lifestyle.
Then at the end of the year, each elementary-school principal will submit a grant application certifying that all third-graders participated in the program, and Unity Health will award each campus up to $3,000 to be used for health-education resources.
The tips are “things we may know but do not preach,” Petty said.
The Healthy Ambassador Program strives to “bring that to the forefront,” she said. “The essays will be what they plan to implement” in
their lives from what they learn.
As for why the third grade was chosen for the program, “We’re the oldest in the elementary schools, and hopefully, [the younger ones] will look up to the older kids,” Petty said. Kindergarten through third-grade classes are housed at each of the elementary schools.
Students listen as the Ambassador of the Week goes to the microphone and reads that week’s tip. Then they write in their journals about the tip and the ensuing discussion. Their journals can then be referred to when they write their essays, Petty said.
“Health is more than [just] eating right,” she said.
And the T-shirts reinforce the goals of the program.
“If they see the T-shirts, [students in] other grade levels will ask about the program, which signifies they are learning.”
Westside is decorated to the hilt with examples and tips on being health-centered. Banners, posters and instructions are placed in high-traffic areas, such as by the water fountains, near restrooms and as one enters the school. It is impossible to not see the tips and be impacted by the philosophy.
The $3,000 grant may be used for physical education classes, playground equipment or any health-related resource that could lead to better health,
Petty said.
Some of the other health tips offered in the program include “Breakfast Rules!” “Catch Some Z’s,” “Always Wear a Helmet,” “Say Slow Down to Sugar,” “Drink Water,” “Don’t Do Drugs,” “Buckle Up for safety,” “Bye Bye Cavity Bugs — Brush twice a day for two minutes,” “Dress for the Weather” and “Having a positive attitude and thinking good thoughts contribute to good health.”
All the tips are useful not only for the children but for adults as well, Petty said, and she hopes the students will share the tips with their parents.
“It is very important to us as a health care organization to empower our children to think and be health-centered,” Brumfield said.
After tip No. 4 on bus safety was read in Petty’s class, students listed how the goal could be accomplished. “Watch for cars.” “Don’t bolt, for they may not see you!” “Stand several feet away from the street.” “Pay attention to people.”
All are good hints to stay safe, and all ones that students came up with on the spur of the moment.
“Why are these tips important?” Petty asked the students.
“If you are too close to the bus, you could get hit!” one said. “If a car races by, it can get you,” another said. “You can get run over.”
“Who rides the bus?”
Petty asked, and many hands went up. “What are some bus rules?” she asked.
“No standing on the bus.” “You have to wait on the steps when dropped off.” “Do not eat [on the bus].” “Do not stick your head out the window.” “Do not distract the bus driver.” “Do not stick hands or anything out the window.” “Don’t hang out the window. You could fall out!”
“Rules are to keep you safe,” Petty reminded the students. The discussion showed that students were taking the rules and safety to heart and discovering how to put them into practice, she said.