Commit to Be Fit Newsletter

29 September 2023/ Issue No. 257

Our walking group is off to a fantastic start! Held on the walking path near the school board office, it's a great opportunity to walk and talk with other participants. For more info on this weekly offering, check out the announcements/reminders section below. We hope you can join us!

Commit to Be Fit held it's first monthly meal prep of the new school year on Monday, September 25th. Each participant created three customized Omelets in a Jar using a variety of veggies. Yum! Check out the pic above to see one of the cooked omelet! This is a fantastic and easy meal prep idea. Omelets can be heated in the jar or dumped into a skillet for a quick breakfast.

Commit to Be Fit is excited to host a FREE community event featuring Karen's Line Dancing! Bring your family and join us for 2 hours of line dancing lessons!! 😀 Additionally, we will be collecting canned goods to donate to the Rappahannock Food Pantry. Feel free to bring a can if you would like to contribute.

Our popular Hike, Rappahannock community challenge is back! To participate, go on at least one hike during the month of October. Hikes can be done at ANY LOCATION and ANY DISTANCE. Have a favorite trail? Yes, repeating the same trail counts. Get ready to have some fun physical activity while enjoying the beautiful scenery!

PRIZES: We will have two prize drawings; each winner will receive a C2BF hat!

CLICK HERE to learn more and register!

*Registration is required. We will be emailing participants a "trail of the week" just to share information about different trails in our area. Thank you, Mr. Seward, for the suggestion. :)

Turn in your completed activity logs to c2bf@rappahannockschools.us (or drop them off at the school board office) by October 5th. Everyone who submits a completed activity log with 150 minutes per week, including two weekly muscle strengthening activities will be entered into our prize drawing! One lucky winner will receive a C2BF duffle bag!

Superintendent's Physical Activity Challenge Participants-- If you have achieved 150 minutes including 2 muscular strengthening activities each week, you are eligible too! Be sure to submit a log to enter.

Lace up your shoes and join us for Walking Group on Mondays! This group meets at 3:45 pm at the RCES flag pole. Whether you are competing in one of our physical activity challenges or you would like to get a few extra steps in, we would love for you to come out and walk with us! This group is open to the entire community. Tell your friends or bring them with you!

Through a PATH Foundation grant, Commit to Be Fit is excited to continue the POP (Power of Produce) Bucks program to provide access to local food and support our local 2023 Farmers Market season. EVERY Rappahannock County Public Schools student has the opportunity to redeem a POP Bucks Market Bag, which will include local produce, protein, bread, and more! Plus, every student picking up a market bag will be given two $5 tokens to redeem for additional items at participating market vendors. To learn more and/or to sign-up for your appointment date (REQUIRED), visit https://www.rappc2bf.com/pop-bucks

*Once the sign-up is full for the upcoming weekend, the link will close. Be sure to check back each week for availability.

Whoop! Whoop! Who’s excited for our October Hiking Challenge? We are certainly fortunate to live in such a serene area filled with natural beauty. Here are a few helpful tips to keep you safe while hitting the trails.

• Research your trail ahead of time so there aren't any surprises ahead of time. Be sure to check the distance and difficulty level. CLICK HERE to see a helpful resource. The link is set for Shenandoah National Park, but you can search other areas too.

• Hike with a buddy. Not only is it more fun to have a companion, but there is safety in numbers. If you do decide to hike alone, always tell someone where you are headed. Be mindful that cell phone service may not be available on the trail.

• Wear comfortable shoes with tread (trailing running shoes, hiking boots, etc.), especially if the trail is rocky and/or wet. Additionally, wear layers so that you can adjust to the temperature changes if needed.

• Always carry water and sip it throughout the hike to avoid dehydration.

• Carry a small backpack with a few hiking essentials just in case. This includes a small first aid kit, fire starter, small snack, sunscreen, toiletries (toilet paper/baby wipes, hand sanitizers, and waste bags), and a small flashlight. I have found myself in the dark more than once while hiking and a flashlight is a must! Keep in mind, cell phone batteries die so you must have a back-up light source just in case.

• Allow yourself extra time to complete the hike. You may want to take breaks along the way to rest and enjoy the natural beauty!

How can you improve your immune system? Eating a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle behaviors such as getting quality sleep and exercising prepare the body to fight and recover from infection. A balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals can boost your body's immune system and overall health. Food is fuel! Fill half your plate with a variety of fruits and vegetables by choosing red, orange, or dark-green vegetables like tomatoes, sweet potatoes,

and broccoli. Look for "100% whole grain/wheat" on labels to replace refined grains with whole grains. Choose lean protein sources such as chicken, seafood, beans, and eggs. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." - Benjamin Franklin

It's that time of year for pumpkins! Check out the recipe from Monica Deneff, The Traveling Dietician.

CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE

RCPS Staff- C2BF invites you to share staff shout-outs to run in our weekly newsletter in the teachers tidbits section. We will run this throughout the semester, so feel free to submit as often as you like. Messages can be signed or anonymous; it's up to you. Let's spread kindness, happiness, and gratitude with positive notes!

CHECK OUT THIS WEEK'S SHOUT-OUTS

• Shout-out to TC Williams! -Anonymous
• Jen Wissinger, you are doing a fantastic job in your new role. You are committed to our teachers and protection of instruction of the whole student. The days are long, but your impact will make a difference in the lives of the staff and students I love watching how you give your all every day and I absolutely love working with you! -Anonymous
• Sam, you bring a chipper attitude and warm smile every day! You are the face that each person sees when they walk into our building, which is so important! I am so grateful for how seriously you take your job to help our students, parents, and staff! -Anonymous
• Dr. Grimsley- Thank you for always being our biggest supporter and cheerleader! -Anonymous
• Christy, I appreciate everything you do! You give your very best each day and make sure that we are ALL cared for. Thank you for being you! -Anonymous
• Heather, taking over the clinic hasn't been easy! You are doing it with grace and humor! Thank you for being on our team and thank you for taking care of everything from boo-boos to 911 calls. -Anonymous
• Kayla M., the Teachers Corner newsletter had awesome content and design! Thanks for all your hard work on this informative and helpful newsletter.
• MHI TEAM - Kayla, Lora, Evelyn, Erica, Kathy!- Thank you for everything you do to help our students get into a safe space to learn. Our students are learning coping skills and strategies that they will use for a lifetime. The work you do is so important! -Anonymous
• Vernette Rogers- appreciation for all you do with your class everyday :) -Amy Wayland
• Mr. Robbie, thank you for being a solid object for our students. You are always there to mentor and provide support, even when the stakes are high. Our students adore you and you make our world a safer place! Thank you for all you do! -Anonymous
• I would like to give a HUGE shout-out to Mr. Seward. Your energy and passion for student and staff wellbeing is second to none. Thank you! -Anonymous

The winners of this week's FREE salad bar coupon goes to Jacqui Lowe-Barton (RCES) and Kalia Page (RCHS).

RCPS Teachers-- As a friendly reminder, we have a massive database of brain breaks (PreK-12) and movement games/activities with SOL and content integration ideas (PK-5). CLICK HERE to view the Teacher Resource page. If you prefer, the C2BF team would be happy to come to your classroom and lead a brain break, activity, or even a mindful minute. Email c2bf@rappahannockschools.us to schedule a push-in.