Mayor Tudela leads ‘Live It’ program at HJHS

Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela led the start of the “Live It!” health awareness program participated by Hopwood Junior High School students yesterday morning.

Tudela said the program would not have been realized without the cooperation of the business community, especially the collaboration of Coca-Cola Beverage (Micronesia), Inc.

The mayor spoke to several students about the importance of the program in their every day living. He said it’s about time the students learn the significance of living healthy in the CNMI.

Coca-Cola sales and marketing director Kathryn Barry said the company’s participation in the program is part of the long-standing partnership with the schools in the CNMI.

“We want to play a positive and effective role in helping to promote healthy, active lifestyles among our students,” she said.

HJHS principal Jim Brewer said all 585 students of Hopwood would be participating in the nationwide campaign, a new program encouraging youth to lead healthy, active lifestyles and reach the President’s goal of “a healthier United States.”

For two straight weeks, physical education teacher Mark Rozic said the children will be competing for special prizes at the end of the program. He said each student will be given a pedometer or “stepometer,” a small red walking device that would monitor the number of steps the children would take per day. Rozic said the students must achieve at least 10,000 steps per day. Awarding will follow after two weeks.

Hopwood will be participating in this unique program from Dec. 12 to Dec. 23 and will also be making a presentation to the parents at the Dec. 15 PTSA meeting at 6pm in the HJHS cafeteria.

The “Live It!” program features two student activities:

* Step With It, which focuses on the health benefits of stepping—a low-impact form of physical activity. The student goal is to record at least 10,000 steps a day, using a personal “stepometer” measuring device and a list of fun and easy ideas for reaching the goal.

* Fit It In, encourages making healthy food choices through daily food tips found on student “Activity Cards.” The cards feature the new USDA “MyPyramid” and encourage students to include whole grain foods; eat dark green or orange vegetables; choose lean meat, chicken or fish; and drink low-fat or fat-free milk as recommended in the new U.S. Dietary Guidelines issued in January 2005.