The school system is already working on the problem of obesity in our community. The way we are going about is by having various programs being implemented in our schools. Starting with the walking clubs that many of our schools have initiated either by a principal, teacher or nurse of that school and the wonderful part is the program has not only incorporated the students but also the parents. We have eliminated certain foods from the vending machines and the lunch program. Teachers are speaking to their students more and more on the importance of nutrition and the consequences of what over eating of certain foods will cause. We the school committee along with the Superintendent have been promoting the Whole Child and the Homefront initiative. We have a had a sub-committee set up, which I was happy to be part of, and it was comprised of administrators, teachers, parents, doctors, and nurses to bring together ideas to implement beneficial steps towards better health options. What I have done in promoting health in our city is work along side City Counselor, Breanna Lungo and Kristin Howell, a 4th grade teacher from the Brooks school, in having our first Medford Fit for Life 5K Walk that was in honor of Officer Patrick Fahey. The walk was to promote a community day for fitness to anyone that wanted to participate. It not only promoted awareness in our health, brought us closer together as a community, but it also raised enough money to provide for sixteen scholarships for all of the elementary schools in our city towards the Medford Summer Time Program.
