On-the-job fitness programs get high marks from local speakers

Thursday, August 4, 2011

By ASHLEY JACKSON - Bulletin Staff Writer

One Henry County teacher lost 18 pounds during the last school year through an after-school program that promoted healthy lifestyles.

Another dropped two pants sizes.

“It was an awesome experience, and our teachers expressed that they felt much healthier” afterward, said Sherry Vestal, specialist for school health services in the county schools.

Vestal described the program, which was the result of Henry County Schools’ partnership with the Martinsville Henry County Coalition for Health and Wellness, during a meeting with representatives of about 30 local employers on Wednesday.

They attended a luncheon at the Dutch Inn to learn about opportunities to integrate health and wellness in the workplace and also to kick off National Health Center Week on Aug. 7-13.

It’s important to incorporate health and wellness “where we already are,” Barbara Jackman, executive director of the coalition, told the group.

The coalition works with local employers, directing them to programs that can be incorporated into their worksites.

It also gives them a plan and offers them incentives, such as pedometers for walking, exercise bands for aerobics and lunch containers to promote portion control, according to Kayla Craddock, community health educator with the coalition.

In the partnership with the county schools, three groups of teachers met after school for 12 weeks last year at either Stanleytown Elementary, Drewry Mason Elementary or the Henry County Schools Central Office in the Henry County Administration Building, Vestal said.

The incentive for the teachers — other than becoming healthier — was that if they participated in 10 of the 12 weeks of the program, they would receive points that went toward their recertification, Vestal said. Teachers’ certification must be renewed every five years.

During each week of the program, an average of 25 to 30 teachers in each group learned about a health-related topic, such as nutrition, for about 20 minutes and then exercised for about 45 minutes. They did aerobics, yoga or different exercise videos, Vestal said.

The exercises and the discussion topics all were related to the state’s Standards of Learning tests. “They could take it (what they learned) back to their classroom, but they were getting healthy as well,” Vestal said.

Memorial Day Celebration At St. John's Church

On the eve of Memorial Day, May 29th, there will be a special service at http://www.sjc400.org/events/tabid/63/vw/3/itemid/9/d/20110529/Memorial-Day.aspxto honor our family members who have served in wars from the founding years of our country to the present. In St. John’s graveyard, there are veterans’ graves from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. There will be a special reenactment after the service. Judith Sherman will be present to talk about her new book on the burials in St. John’s graveyard and to sign copies of her book for purchase. Those of you doing genealogical research will find her book a great asset to your work.

There will be a tour focusing on the graves of veterans of the different wars in the graveyard, and representatives of different veterans’ groups will lay wreaths on the graves of each war’s burials.

Beginning at 5:00, the Fort Lee Army band will be providing music for everyone’s enjoyment. Food vendors from the Patrick Henry Inn, the Alamo Barbecue, the 2300 Club, Buzzy’s and the Hill Cafe will be set up along Broad Street. We hope that all generations will join us in remembering and celebrating the heritage of our Armed Services in this best of countries.

Sunday, May 29th 2011

A day-long remembrance event begins with a special worship service followed by the Reenactment of the Second Virginia Convention.

10:00 AM Worship Service: Holy Communion with prayers for those in military service

12:00 PM Food vendors open on sidewalk; Alamo BBQ, The 2300 Club, Patrick Henry’s Pub, For questions about the reenactment call 804-648-5015

1:20 PM Judith Bowen-Sherman introduces her book The Burying Ground at Old St. John’s Church: A Concise History with Fifty Family Profiles and a Parish Burial Register

1:30 PM Patriotic Music Program

2:00 PM Reenactment of the Second Virginia Convention

2:45 PM Book signing in Visitor Center with Judith Bowen-Sherman

3:00 PM Tours led by a costumed docent exploring Patrick Henry’s political career and the national and international implications of his “Liberty or Death” speech.

3:45 PM Historical exhibits in Parish Hall

4:00 PM Graveyard tour with prayers at graves of those who served in six wars. Guests from lineage and veterans societies are invited.

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