Commit to Be Fit Newsletter

5 April 2024/ Issue No. 282

Let's show some love for the finishers of the 8-week Superintendent's Physical Activity Award Challenge! Dr. Grimsley challenged all RCPS staff to create consistent fitness habits by engaging in regular physical activity. To qualify for the award, participants had to log their minutes and complete all eight weeks in a category of their choice.

Platinum- 250 minutes of moderate physical activity AND 2 muscular strengthening activities weekly

Gold- 250 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly

Silver- 200 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly

Bronze- 150 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly

Iron- 30-149 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly

Thanks to the generosity of a staff wellness grant, exciting prizes were up for grabs! On April 5th, participants eagerly gathered after school for a live prize drawing for each of the five categories. The lucky winners (pictured) received a symbolic check reflecting their prize value. Up next, the winners will select the prize of their choice from a menu of health-related options such as spa gift cards, gym memberships, fitness equipment, meal delivery subscriptions, and more.

Congratulations to our prize drawing winners:

Platinum- Michele Fincham

Gold- Alivia Tuel & Robbie Fincham (split)

Silver- Katherine Todd

Bronze- Temple Murray (not pictured)

Iron- Carlos Seward

We would like to share a special shout-out to all the staff participants for their amazing efforts to create and/or increase their physical activity habits. While not everyone won a prize today, they ALL deserve lots of kudos for putting in the effort and hard work!

RCPS will be recognizing Neurodiversity/Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month throughout April. Mark your calendars for Monday, April 29th, at 3:45 pm, and join us at the RCES flagpole for a community walk (during Walking Group) to show support for understanding and embracing neurodiversity.

In our busy lives, it is important for our mental well-being to take time for ourselves to relax or participate in our favorite relaxing hobby. For this challenge, complete 450 minutes of relaxation during the month of April. This is only 15 minutes a day. Anything that relaxes you and you enjoy counts. Register today; the challenge kicked off on Monday, April 1st, but it's not too late to join in. For more details, to download your tracker (shown above), and to register for the challenge, CLICK HERE.

PRIZE DRAWING- If you achieve 450 minutes of relaxation during the month, you can enter our prize drawing. Two lucky winners will each receive a camping hammock.

Upcoming Cancellations-- Walking Group will NOT be meeting on April 8th (solar eclipse event).

Lace up your shoes and join us for Walking Group on Mondays! This group meets at 3:45 pm at the RCES flag pole. Whether you are competing in one of our physical activity challenges or you would like to get a few extra steps in, we would love for you to come out and walk with us! This group is open to the entire community. Tell your friends or bring them with you!

Thank you for everyone that expressed interest in a Mindfulness and Relaxation. Please help us select the best Wednesday to offer this workshop. This poll will close on Thursday, April 11th.

Need an excuse to get to a beach? Well, turns out the beach offers a myriad of benefits for our overall well-being. For starters, the sound of waves crashing creates a soothing ambiance which triggers a relaxation response in the brain reducing stress levels. Additionally, the rhythmic motion of the waves can induce a meditative state promoting mindfulness and mental clarity.

Not only is the beach relaxing, spending more time at the beach exposes our bodies to natural sunlight. Sunlight will boost vitamin D production which is essential for bone health and mood regulation. Just be mindful of overexposure which can increase the risk for skin cancer. The beach environment tends to encourage us to participate in more outdoor activities. Of course, engaging in physical activities like swimming or beach volleyball is great exercise. However, maybe step outside of your comfort zone and try something new like paddle boarding, surfing, or (my favorite) kiteboarding. You just might find a new hobby you love or meet new people with similar interests.

Ok, if we want to get down to the molecular level, we can’t forget the negative ions present in ocean air. Without getting into scientific terms, negative ions can help clear the air of airborne allergens such as pollen, mold spores, bacteria, and viruses. In one study, being exposed to negative ions for several hours or more had people with chronic depression and seasonal affective disorder record lower scores on surveys of their depression symptoms.

Finally, the simple act of being near the water often prompts us to unplug from technology and be present in the moment. The beach truly serves as a natural sanctuary for physical, mental, and emotional health. And don’t forget, a good walk in the sand acts as a natural exfoliant, making those feet baby-skin soft!

Our bodies are home to a huge network of glands and hormones that help us function and regulate everything we do. We know this as our endocrine system, but what we may not know is that we are mindlessly exposing ourselves to harmful chemicals and toxins that can interfere with our body’s ability to release and trigger certain hormones. You may have soap bottles or cleaning products with the ingredients like parabens and phthalates or have perfume written on the front of it and think nothing of it. These buzzword ingredients are what we call Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC). These disruptors can mimic a hormone or block hormone receptors all together, preventing essential endocrine processes from taking place. In many, the root cause of underlying health issues come from the exposure to EDCs. When shopping for body and household products, stick to items with minimal ingredients and avoid those buzzword names. Be open to using simple, non-toxic cleaning products. Here is a list of minimal ingredient cleaning solutions to try to have on hand!

• Glass cleaner- 1 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 cup distilled water

• All-purpose cleaner- ¼ cup vinegar, 20 drops of essential oil, 1 tsp phosphorus-free dish soap, 2 cups boiled or distilled water

• Bathroom cleaner-12 ounces of heated white vinegar, 8 ounces dawn dish soap

• Floor cleaner-½ cup white vinegar, 1 gallon warm water

This week's recipe, from the Feel Good Foodie, features salmon fillets stuffed with a mix of Greek yogurt, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, Kalamata olives, green onions, garlic, dill, and lemon zest. Yum! To view the recipe, click HERE.

The winners of this week's FREE salad bar coupon goes to Lauren Barron (RCES) and Erin Platt (RCHS).

RCPS Teachers-- As a friendly reminder, we have a massive database of brain breaks (PreK-12) and movement games/activities with SOL and content integration ideas (PK-5). CLICK HERE to view the Teacher Resource page. If you prefer, the C2BF team would be happy to come to your classroom and lead a brain break, activity, or even a mindful minute. Email c2bf@rappahannockschools.us to schedule a push-in.