Northwood FCCLA works to improve teen health

Posted Saturday, March 17, 2007

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Pittsboro, NC - Each year Northwood FCCLA members choose a project for outreach into the community. This year students found information that led them to look at the health issues facing young people. FCCLA members are helping students at Northwood High School and the schools in the community to learn about physical fitness.

FCCLA is a nonprofit national career and technical student organization for young men and women in family and consumer sciences education in public and private school through grade 12.

Northwood High School FCCLA students have gone to community street fairs, feeder schools, and their own high school to provide information to students about proper nutrition and exercise. In the fall, students planned to reach out to the community with education brochures and activities to help educate people and improve their habits.

The club members had a booth at the street fair in Pittsboro to help educate people in the community on food serving sizes and nutrient content and how exercise is important for overall health. They continued this program by teaching classes at the Northwood feeder schools to help inform adolescent students about diet and exercise.

During the week of March the 5-9, a series of information and activities were made available to students at Northwood. Students were given the opportunity to try fun exercises at lunch and to learn about portion sizes. The students that hula hooped and jumped rope for the longest time were given pedometers and cash prizes.

The FCCLA club at Northwood is excited to have had the opportunity to work with the community and the feeder schools this year. The students that have been involved in these activities have increased their knowledge of nutrition and exercise. They have also provided a great deal of useful information to the students in their school and the community.