PPS Health and Wellness Quarterly
Period Positive: Ending Period Poverty in our Schools
We're excited to spotlight Sarah Britt in this month's wellness newsletter! With six years of experience teaching human growth and development, along with a background in classroom education, Sarah embodies the motto "be the best you can be today" in her classroom. She thoughtfully integrates mindfulness and emotional health into her curriculum, creating a supportive learning environment for her students.
Period Poverty is the lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, and education about menstruation. Period poverty significantly impacts school-aged girls by causing them to miss school due to a lack of access to menstrual products. Studies show that many girls may miss up to 20% of their school days during menstruation, resulting in lower academic performance and increased risk of dropout. Additionally, the stigma surrounding menstruation can lead to emotional distress and lowered self-esteem, further hindering their social and educational development.
Sarah is leading the charge on the Teal Dot Movement within our schools, advocating for the availability of feminine hygiene products. "Feminine hygiene products should be as readily available to those who need them as toilet paper is in the restroom." Her vision includes feminine hygiene product dispensers in bathrooms and placing “Teal Dots” outside of classrooms to indicate that free feminine hygiene products are available inside.
Partnering with local advocate Kenzie Blackwell and her initiative, "Free," Sarah is making significant strides to ensure that all menstruators have access to essential products without stigma. Embracing the PPS theme of BE PRESENT, Sarah felt that this was a crucial step for our attendance initiative. The statistics are clear: on average, individuals facing period poverty miss 180 days of school. Thank you, Sarah, for your dedication to our students' well-being!
If you are interested in being part of the Teal Dot Movement in your school or classroom, please reach out to Sarah at: sbritt@plymouth.k12.ma.us.
Catch those ZZZ's: Sleep Awareness Month
National Sleep Awareness Week is an annual event designed to raise awareness about the importance of sleep and its impact on overall health and well-being. It takes place in March, coinciding with the arrival of Daylight Saving Time, when people often experience changes in their sleep patterns and routines.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1407310612-f448871683a746979cb16ab5ccc8b4c6.jpg)
Meet Erica, the owner of Plymouth's newest fitness studio, Get Fit Studio, located in Cedarville. She credits the fitness community like the one she's curating with “saving her life” after losing herself to the demands of motherhood and work life. By letting go of her mindset that “this is just the way it is now that I am almost 40 and a busy Mom,” she has shed over 100 pounds!
Erica is eager to offer free trial classes and discounted memberships to the PPS staff, stating, “Our teachers and school staff are on the front line of our community. I would love for them to be able to fill their cup here so they have enough left to pour into others.”
The grand opening is on March 15th, featuring an “open house style” event with free pop-up classes, raffles, and special guests. The studio will offer a variety of group fitness classes, including strength training, cardio, yoga, Zumba, Pound classes, and open gym times with trainers available.
Be sure to stop in and take advantage!
JPH delivers alternative holistic programs and resources that are accessible and equitable to all for better community well-being.
"JPH Organization was founded by a group of families who came together with a shared desire to help support their community. In one way or another these families had all experienced times when they needed more community support, be it for themselves or for a loved one. They had navigated significant life interrupters such as mental health needs or emotional health needs without formal support or direction. This process felt isolating, overwhelming, confusing, and often, when extra services were needed, expensive and for some unattainable."
Did you know that nurses and teachers get exclusive discounts to name brand stores and services through ID.me? Sign up for free and start saving!