Community Corner
Mill Creek Gets Our Kids Moving
Encouraging physical activity is the priority for new PTO committee.
Mill Creek in Motion is a new committee initiated this year by the PTO. It's purpose is to keep our children healthy by encouraging physical activity. One or two events will be planned each month to keep the kids moving.
Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition when a child is above the normal weight for their age. The extra pounds can lead to many health problems that were once confined to adults, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and sleep problems.
Just because your child may be carrying around some extra weight does not mean that they are obese. Children will normally have different amounts of body weight at different stages of development.Your doctor will be able to confirm a diagnosis of obesity by measuring their body mass index or BMI. The BMI is calculated from the weight and height of the child. Keep in mind that the BMI is not the single indicator of obesity it does not take into consideration their muscular development, body frame and growth patterns which your doctor will use to determine obesity.
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Childhood obesity has tripled in the last 30 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the BMI for overweight children is between the 85th percentile and 95th percentile. The BMI for obese children is above the 95th percentile. Obesity in children 6 to 11 years old went from 6.5 percent to 19.6 percent in 2008. For children 12 to 19 years old obesity increase from 5.0 percent to 18.1 percent also in 2008.
Mill Creek in Motion has two events scheduled for November. On Tuesday's during lunch recess, student have the opportunity to join in a planned activity of walking around the school building with supervision by the committee co chairpersons Rebecca Evans and Jennifer Reed.
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The second event is after school skate as both an outlet for movement and fundraiser for Mill Creek physical education. The skate will be held in the Mill Creek gymnasium on Nov. 8-11 in the Mill Creek gymnasium right after school. The skate will end at 3:15 p.m. The class sizes are limited and registration is required.
All of the proceeds raised through out the year will be used to purchases PE equipment for the school. If you would like to learn more about Mill Creek in Motion or volunteer you may contact Rebecca Evans at 630-345-4093 or Jennifer Reed at 630-262-8221.
