Linderman ends school year with ‘Sizzling Summer Send-off’
Summer Goddard
Jaja Nichols and Xavier Pierre are all smiles in a sea of Linderman students that stand under the spray of a firetruck hose.
Summer Goddard
Karen Duty brought her white Labrador puppies, 2 of which are destined to become service dogs, to share with Linderman students. “Nothing says wellness like puppies,” she said.
Summer Goddard
Aleiha Walbeck gets a high five for finding her balance on a bosu balance trainer. Students were provided with various health information or tips for staying active from 21 vendors at the health fair portion of Linderman’s end of year event.
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POLSON – Shrieks of joy and delight filled the air as hundreds of Linderman Elementary students gathered underneath a shower of water courtesy of Polson’s Fire Department last Thursday afternoon.
These particular spring showers were the culmination of Linderman’s Sizzling Summer Send-off Health Fair. Organized by the school’s Family Partnership Committee, the event was funded through a grant from St. Luke Community Healthcare’s residency program.
According to Linderman third grade teacher and event organizer Brittany Simonich, the $2,000 grant helped pay for the send-off’s healthy lunch and promotional materials.
While the school normally hosts an end of year event for students and families, this year the focus was on health and wellness.
Active, healthy living was the message for the day as Linderman’s second, third and fourth graders ate a healthy lunch in the grass, attended a wellness fair and participated in a one-mile fun run.
The fun run, planned by Linderman school counselor Chris McElwee, was also supported by the Polson High School cross country team and Polson Police Department who helped block intersections for the course plotted around the school.
Twenty-one vendors set up stations at the wellness fair to share methods of staying active over the summer. Among those attending were: Head Over Heels Gymnastics, Mission Fitness, Girl Scouts, Flathead Raft Company and North Lake County Library.
At the health fair, students were given wrist bands that read, “Make healthy choices, 5-2-1-0.” The numbers on the band stand for the following daily health recommendations: eat five servings of fruits and vegetables, spend less than two hours of recreational screen time, engage in one hour of physical activity and consume zero sugary drinks. St. Luke Community Healthcare has been promoting this message as part of their new Active Kids plus Fit Families equals Healthy Communities program.
In addition to providing a reminder of healthy practices, the band also gets students discounts at various participating businesses over the summer including: $1 off a frozen yogurt at Sweet Bliss, a 2-for-1 ride on the Happy Hippo, $10 off monthly membership at Head Over Heels and $2 games and $1 off shoe rental at Sportspage Bowl.
Counting by the number of lunches served, the allschool event was attended by 615 people.
Judging by the volume of student excitement, the shower provided by the fire department was a highlight of day.
“We will be asking them back every year for sure,” Simonich said.
