 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Top of the class
By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE © St. Petersburg Times, published December 14, 2000 CRYSTAL RIVER -- Vinesha Rogers wrinkled her nose at the sight of the big, open cow heart on display at the Crystal River High School Health Academy's annual health fair. The 5-year-old Crystal River Primary School kindergartener said it "looks nasty." She did seem to realize, however, that it had been somewhat useful to the cow at one time because she knew "it beeps." Vinesha and her classmates were invited to don gloves and feel the heart. Some were willing, and others weren't. The kindergarten students are usually visited once a month at their school by Health Academy students. When the academy holds the health fair, though, the kindergarteners walk over to the high school. "And they love it," said Health Academy director Judy Powell, "and we design some projects for them. Besides the hands-on heart and the regular displays put on by the students, there were kid-friendly activities, such as face painting, nutrition bingo, hopscotch and snacks. "We tried harder this year to do stuff for the kindergarteners," said Shealynn Tyo, a 17-year-old senior. Shealynn said the seniors who coordinated this year's fair, Louise Brown and Jennifer Dashnau, "did a really good job." The health fair was the culmination of projects the students had been working on for months, said Powell. The gymnasium was filled with projects bearing such titles as "Childhood Obesity," "Therapeutic Touch: Healing or Hoax" and "Does Exercising Affect Diabetes?" There were also about 15 health care providers from the community on hand with information for the students and visitors. Midway Animal Hospital had a popular exhibit that declared "Pets Need Health Care, Too!!" But the biggest pull was the two dogs, Dexter and Duchess. Mikey Casanova, 5, was visiting the dogs when he mentioned a couple of things he had learned that morning. "Exercise every day," he said, "and those are for protecting your leg, I think." He was referring to the SonLife Prosthetics and Orthotics display of an artificial foot and brace. Brittany Kopas was particularly interested in that display. "They're kind of neat," she said, "because my nana lost her eye and her foot." Marissa Aretz, 5, was at a Health Academy student's display, "Love Animals; Don't Abuse Them," coloring a little picture of a dog green and blue. She summed up the health fair from a kindergartener's point of view. She liked "painting on face, the bones, the snack (and) the hand print."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
Citrus Times |
