In 1990 alone, 61 percent of America’s adult population was either overweight or obese. Since 1980, the percentage of adolescents who are overweight have nearly tripled. Today in America, almost nine million young people, about 15 percent, are overweight. This is a growing epidemic, especially throughout the state of Maine, and the Lewiston school system is trying to put a stop to that.
There has recently been a new idea brought to the table of all Lewiston schools; a snowshoe program. Not only would this add to the Physical Education curriculum, but it would provide something new and exciting for the students to participate in. Currently, Lewiston’s elementary schools have 30 pairs of snowshoes that are circling around, and Physical Education teachers are already seeing a difference. The students are getting introduced to something new and different, they are actually enjoying exercise. It is nice to see a smiling face and eager eyes. Lewiston Middle School should also be expecting snowshoes soon, as Mr. Regis Beaulieu, Lewiston High School’s Health Coordinator, has hopes of all Lewiston’s schools getting an equal opportunity.
At the current moment, Lewiston High School has received a grant of $1,000 to move forward on this endeavor. Yet, Lewiston High School also needs about another $2,000. To reach our goal, all four classes of Lewiston High School have decided to step in, and start raising money. On February 11, Lewiston High School was at Roopers Redemption Center having a bottle drive. All donations are greatly accepted and much appreciated. If you have any bottles at your home that you would like to donate, you could call Mrs. Linda Neczypor, junior class advisor at Lewiston High School (795-4190) ext. 568, and make arrangements, if needed, for the bottles to be picked up. Everything and anything would be a major help.
Talking to Mr. Beaulieu, I began to realize how great of an idea this really was. These snowshoes can give the students of Lewiston High School an incentive to just go outside, get fit, and have fun while doing it. Gym classes would benefit from it, and perhaps an intramural program could even get started up after school. Mr. Beaulieu states, “Kids just need to get outside now a days, go build a snowman, do whatever. Snowshoeing offers unique, affordable, and practical ways to teach, assess, and encourage physical activity.” This could be a new lifetime activity at Lewiston High School, and everyone’s help is needed. Please call us to pick up your bottles. Let us not make Maine, and our city, just another statistic.
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