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Health Fair Challenges Teens to Explore and Reflect

photo by Hannah Mailloux VUHS Sohomores Maggie Johnston, Hannah DeGraaf and Isabelle Hamilton explore the possibilities of the Health Fair

Tuesday May 19, 2009

By Cookie Steponaitis

     On Thursday, May 14th,   VUHS was the site of a Health and Wellness Fair that involved six hundred students from grades 7-12 in a variety of activities and presentations that focused on exploring and reflecting on personal health and living choices. Organized by Substance Abuse Coordinator Nathan Kittredge, the event included such diverse presenters as Rusty DeWees and a mock car crash involving local fire, rescue, police departments and medical transport personnel. The event began at 10:45 with students perusing over forty different booths in the gymnasium. 

   Presentations included Belly dancing, CPR, VUHS college students, Juggling, Arm Wrestling, National Guard Quarterback Challenge, identifying impacts of alcohol, nutrition and natural products, Nintendo Wii fitness and many more.

    Many students expressed surprise at the seriousness of DeWees’s   presentation, having associated him mostly with his comedy presentations. Sophomore Casey Poquette commented, “ I was quite surprised that he had only drank alcohol once when he was fifteen, and I really paid attention as he talked about our society celebrating events with alcohol and asking us why people would want to get wasted to celebrate. It made me think.”  

    Another event that resulted in a great deal of personal reflection was the mock car crash that ended the day. All high school students were taken out to the back of the school where a car crash was staged that required the use of heavy rescue equipment and all medical emergency personnel. Senior Mason Evarts, also a member of the local fire department, echoed the need for people to think about drinking and driving. “With graduation coming,” Mason remarked, “there is an ever more present reason for people to realize that alcohol and driving just do not mix. The results are often tragic and impact not only those involved with the crash, but those called upon to come to the scene.” Sophomore Will Kuhns echoed Evarts’ thoughts with the comment, “It was really intense. The atmosphere of the teens around the crash was somber and the atmosphere was tense. While it was a simulation there was no doubt that the message was received.” Another interesting facet to the day was that the meals offered for school lunch were all organic produce and prepared by teens in Mr. Mark Power’s Cooking with Science class. The message of the day at all levels was healthy choices, healthy living, healthy eating, with emotional and physical well-being being a large component of what each individual needs to focus on to help improve the quality of their life.

    Each teen reflected on the event by ending the day with their Morning Meeting teacher in a discussion format. The day inspired, intrigued and in some cases was just plain fun. An arm wrestling showdown between Co-principal Ed Webbley and English teacher Chris Wyckoff will live on in school memories for quite a while. Messages given by presenters, dedication on the faces of the rescue personnel, enthusiasm of local produce growers, and even the brave who tried belly dancing will all bring about small and even large changes in the lives of those who attended. As physician James West commented, “Health is a large word.  It embraces not the body only, but the mind and spirit as well; and not today's pain or pleasure alone, but the whole being and outlook of a man.”

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