Northwest CT's Healthy Eating & Active Living Initiative

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Fit Together in Action- July
5-2-1-0, Fit Together

Fit Together in Action- July

Fit Together in Action July News Partner Highlight- Camp Moe Fit Fun YMCA’s Camp Moe, a day camp in Litchfield County for boys and girls aged 5-15 years, has been providing campers recreational activities and social skills for over 10 years. This year, I had the pleasure of conducting an eight-week “Fun Fit” program through a partnership with YMCA and Fit Together. The daily program began with one-hour fitness games that kept kids moving and having fun, followed by a one-hour session of preparing a healthy snack that they were able to take home and share with their families.  The…
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Fit Together in Action June
5-2-1-0, Fit Together

Fit Together in Action June

Fit Together in Action June News Partner Highlight- Southwest School Asphalt Activities Project – Fun Playground Time! In the Fall of 2021, Eric Mahar, Physical Education teacher at Southwest and Forbes elementary schools, proposed a project to the Building Healthier Communities Fund Advisors which would offer students a variety of constructive alternatives for physical activity when outside on the schools’ blacktops. Since this proposal was in alignment with Fit Together and Building Healthier Communities Fund missions, a grant was awarded for the stencils and other supplies, with the condition that they are shared with other schools. Eric and his team…
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Fit Together in Action May
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Fit Together in Action May

Fit Together in Action May News May: Torrington Middle School inspiring others to be healthier In 2018, Kara Centrella, a school nurse at Torrington Middle School, had a vision to create a fitness and nature trail that would be open to the community. The trail would be user-friendly and inclusive of all ages and skill levels. Having grown up in Torrington, it was very important to Kara that the trail to be a shared space for members of the community. Karen’s dream eventually became a reality, and she recently received funds to add stencils promoting various exercises along the trail.…
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Fit Together in Action April
5-2-1-0, Fit Together

Fit Together in Action April

Fit Together in Action April News Partner Highlight: School Gardens Spring is here and school gardens have begun!  We have five Fit Together partners who are in full swing with their plantings and include Brooker Memorial, Gilbert, Vogel-Wetmore, Torringford, Goshen, Warren, and James Morris. The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul. Gardening helps kids engage their curiosity, learn to be resourceful and gain self-confidence. Plus, it's a great way to get everyone outside for fresh air and physical…
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Fit Together in Action March 2023
5-2-1-0, Fit Together, Uncategorized

Fit Together in Action March 2023

Fit Together in Action March News Partner Highlight: Litchfield Center School Fit Fun Bags Laura Pieger is a Fit Together partner and a teacher at Litchfield Center School. She applied for a Fit Together mini-grant in order to fund Fit Fun Bags. She shared with me the success they have had the first month of introducing the bags to the students and families! Each classroom received a tote bag with fun fitness items for each student to enjoy. The students gets to take home the bag for one week and play with all the items with their friends and families.…
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Fit Together in Action February
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Fit Together in Action February

Fit Together in Action February News  Partner Highlight: Vogel-Wetmore after School Program     Fitness Fun with Fit Together Jessica Stewart Fit Together’s Youth and Family Coordinator has been providing a Fitness Fun class twice a week at Vogel-Wetmore’s after-school program to kindergarteners. It's an hour long class that keeps the students moving with fun activities and games while learning the basics to exercises. Some of the activities come from the CATCH program which is an evidence-based program to prevent childhood obesity. She has enjoyed working with the kids and look forward to working with the other age groups over…
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Fit Together In Action January
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Fit Together In Action January

Fit Together in Action January News Partner Highlight: Torrington Middle School Torrington Middle School (TMS) is one of Fit Together’s partner schools. TMS’s Fit Committee recently embarked on a fitness campaign called the 12 Days of Winter Fitness Challenge. The challenge started on December 7th and ended on December 22nd. Teachers, nurses, building administrators, and the TMS Fit Committee recorded and presented one fitness challenge daily to promote fitness and wellness to our students. Students watched the hilarious TMS staff-created exercise-fitness videos, which included challenges such as Polar Bear Push Ups, Reindeer Kicks, Tinsel-Twists, Snowy Mountain Climbers, or the fan-favorite…
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Fit Together in Action December
5-2-1-0, Fit Together, Uncategorized

Fit Together in Action December

Fit Together in Action December 2022 News Fit Families Program This was Fit Together’s first in person Fit Families Program since COVID. We partnered with New Opportunities Inc., to offer a six week Wellness program for kids 6-10 years old and their parents/caregivers. Jessica Stewart, Fit Together’s coordinator and Caitlin Vinuelas, Northwest CT YMCA Branch Director were the facilitators. The program incorporated nutrition/physical activity/mental wellness for the entire family. For the first half of each class the kids participated in fun physical activities/games, while the caregivers have their own session with a guest speaker. During the second half of class…
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Fit Together in Action November
5-2-1-0, Fit Together, Uncategorized

Fit Together in Action November

Fit Together in Action November News   Fit Together Partner Highlights Torringford Host first Pumpkin Dash Torringford School is one of Fit Together’s gold partners. They have been working hard to educate and support healthy habits.  Kelly Galullo, the principal and her wellness team hosted the school’s first annual Pumpkin Dash. Because they understand the tremendous benefit of activity on a child's growth and development both physically and mentally, their wellness team's mission is to continue to provide opportunities for students to get moving!  The hope is activities like this will inspire children and their families to be active in…
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Fit Together in Action October
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Fit Together in Action October

Fit Together in Action October News   Fit Together Partner Highlights- Vogel-Wetmore Celebrates Local Harvest Vogel-Wetmore elementary school is one of Fit Together’s Gold Status partners celebrated the local bounty harvest this month both with a farmer visit and school garden celebration.  Torrington Public Schools received a local produce grant for the school year, providing funds to purchase local fruits and veggies for the school meal program.  On Friday October 7, Vogel-Wetmore students had a special visitor from one of the participating farms during their lunch. Farmer Stephen from Chanticleer Acres spoke to the students as they came in for…
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