TULSA, OK – [July 31, 2018] – The Tulsa Health Department’s It’s All About Kids (IAK) school health program, Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) Expanded Learning Program and the Tandy Family YMCA invite TPS families to attend a Family Engagement Night on Thursday, August 2 at the Tandy Family YMCA at 5005 S Darlington Ave, Tulsa.
The collaboration between these programs has allowed students a unique experience this summer. Approximately 215 K-6th graders attending the summer program at Hoover Elementary, Grimes Elementary and Skelly Elementary visited the Tandy YMCA weekly to learn about nutrition and health.
Over the summer break, K-2nd grade students have attended weekly breakout sessions on how nutrition affects their bodies and what foods they can eat to make their bones, muscles and brains stronger. This was followed with a fun, interactive game to keep them active and incorporate what they just learned. The older students, 3rd-6th graders, created snacks after learning how to read recipes and follow them. These snacks were then shared with the entire student body.
“It’s been exciting to see so many students try new foods like salmon dip and crackers and like it,” added Charley Daniel, THD school health manager. “By collaborating with the Tandy YMCA, we have been able to utilize their Healthy Table Nutrition Kitchen to provide a hands-on approach to learning for these students.”
The Family Engagement Night will allow parents to experience bootcamp and dance classes offered by the YMCA, sample different recipes the students made throughout the summer and an opportunity to ride the IAK Blender Bike. Tandy YMCA is also offering tours, free three-day passes for interested families and an opportunity to sign up for youth sport activities.
“We hope that parents will come out and participate in this event,” said Daniel. “And it will be a reminder for them to ‘Be the Big Kid’ when it comes to staying active as a family.”
For more information about IAK, please call 918-582-WELL (9355) or visit www.tulsaplay.org.
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**Note: There are opportunities for visuals during the planned activity schedule below.
Front Lobby – It’s All About Kids
· 3:45 – 5:30 Blender Bike Smoothie Demo & tasting
Healthy Table – It’s All About Kids
· 4:00-5:30 – Families can sample different recipes the students made throughout the summer
Gym or Studio Room – YMCA
· 4:00-4:30 Dance for kids and parents
· 4:45 – 5:15 Bootcamp for kids & parents
About Tulsa Health Department
Since its establishment in 1950, the Tulsa Health Department serves as the primary public health agency to more than 600,000 Tulsa County residents, including 13 municipalities and four unincorporated areas. The agency is one of two autonomous local health departments in Oklahoma, with statutory public health jurisdiction throughout Tulsa County and the City of Tulsa. THD’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of all Tulsa County residents, in order to make Tulsa County the healthiest county in the country. THD was among the first health departments in the U.S. to receive national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board. For more information, please visit www.tulsa-health.org.
About It’s All About Kids
Since its beginning in 2004, the Tulsa Health Department’s IAK program has provided an opportunity for thousands of school children to improve their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors toward nutrition and exercise through comprehensive health education. Learning healthy habits early follows them throughout their lifetime. Each year, the program targets Tulsa County public school districts, and hosts more than 40 informative and exciting events for parents and families. The program was recognized as a Model Practice in 2008 by the National Association for City and County Health Officials (NACCHO). It’s All About Kids partners with schools to capture valuable data in the areas of academic improvement, decrease in behavioral referrals, and increase in attendance. IAK follows the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model placing children in the center as the main focus. The WSCC merges components from both the Coordinated School Health model and the Whole Child Framework to align learning and health. For more information, please visit www.tulsaplay.org.
About TPS Extended Learning Program
Tulsa Public Schools is the destination for extraordinary educators who work with our community and families to ignite the joy of learning and prepare every student for the greatest success in college, careers and life. Our mission is to inspire and prepare every student to love learning, achieve ambitious goals and make positive contributions to our world. For more information, please visit www.tulsaschools.org.
About Tandy YMCA
The Tandy Family YMCA is a YMCA for the next generation. More than 110,000 square feet dedicated to the pursuit of healthy living and community building opened in early 2017; this state-of-the-art facility is built on the grounds of the 50-year old Thornton Family YMCA, one of the anchors of midtown Tulsa. The Tandy YMCA also is home to a state-of-the-art Healthy Table Nutrition Kitchen where participants get to cook alongside chefs, dieticians, and many partners to the Y. While working out, parents have access to our Play & Learn program that offers childcare that focuses on exactly what the program is called; programming relevant for youth development. The Tandy Family YMCA also collaborates with OU Physicians Center for Exercise and Sports Medicine and OU Physical Therapy to provide care that focuses on education, prevention, therapy and research. For more information, please visit http://ymcatulsa.org/locations/tandy-family-ymca.
