Blackstone Valley Tech Culinary Arts students put on a well-received demonstration on the benefits of homemade popcorn during the school’s second annual Staff Health & Wellness Fair. Tips for making a healthy homemade popcorn included replacing salt with natural spices and butter with olive oil. Seen here are BVT Culinary Arts students Corey Parkinson of Douglas, Autumn Lombardi of Douglas, Bailey Kratschman of Bellingham, Julia Zechello of Douglas, and Amber Boiteau of Blackstone.
Students aren’t the only ones learning about the importance of health and well-being at Blackstone Valley Tech, as BVT teachers and staff spent the morning of December 11, 2013, exploring the connection between wellness, productivity, and happiness.
For the second consecutive year, the BVT Wellness Committee organized a Staff Health & Wellness Fair dedicated to providing employees with information regarding physical and mental well-being. This year’s event focused on the connection between stress and health, with dozens of vendors providing information on the potential impact of stress on a person’s sleeping patterns, weight, and even teeth. Employees were also given the chance to receive various health screenings and services such as vision tests, dermatological scans, and flu shots.
In addition to those conducted by outside vendors, several of the event’s demonstrations and screenings were conducted by BVT students. Students from the Culinary Arts program held a taste-test demonstration of homemade popcorn as a healthy alternative to the packaged variety and students from the Post-Secondary Practical Nursing program participated in screenings for blood glucose, blood pressure, and body mass index.
Among the employees taking part in the fair was History teacher Barry Coonan of Grafton, who was glad to see the district recognize that health and wellness are important issues to school employees.
“Health is something that we all share and have a common goal toward,” Coonan said. “This is a nice response by the administration.”
Account Executive David Kieser of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care was one of many healthcare representatives on hand for the event, which he considered an example of forward thinking when it comes to employee wellness.
“This district is among a few districts being proactive and trying change the culture when it comes to getting teachers and staff in the mindset of thinking about wellness,” Kieser said. “It’s not just about what to do when you’re sick. It’s about getting healthy and staying healthy.”
Following the recent employee fair, a Student Health & Wellness Fair is scheduled for the spring of 2014 and plans are underway to host another series of fairs in the 2014-2015 school year.
Blackstone Valley Tech Teachers Assistant Karen VanKeuren was one of many employees who took a turn in the complimentary massage chair during the school’s second annual Staff Health & Wellness Fair on December 11, 2013. This year’s event focused on the effects of stress on health and included dozens of vendors and activities dedicated to stress management and reduction.
UPTON DAILY 