September 20, 2011
It isn’t every day that students get to work out with professional football players, but 6 students from Floyd Elementary will have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on Sept. 27 during this year’s Fuel Up to Play 60 Kick Off to School Health at Ford Field in Detroit. Students will learn a number of fun and easy-to-implement “plays” that can be incorporated into their nutrition and physical activity programs, inspiring students, schools and communities to create healthier school environments.
The students attending from Floyd Elementary School are: Cole Brown, Hayden Winchell, Gabe McGuire, Emily Tomchick, Grace Trosin, and Morgan Simons. Traveling with the students will be: Principal Rod Dishaw, Physical Education Teacher Wendy Danna, and Food Service Director Sherrie VanConant. Floyd Elementary is one of only 34 Michigan schools participating in this year’s Fuel Up to Play 60 Kick Off to School Health event. The students will use the funds from winning the challenge to ride to the stadium in style in a limousine. They also will attend a Detroit Tigers game that evening.
Fuel Up to Play 60 is a student-driven in-school wellness program developed by the National Dairy Council and the National Football League in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture in 2008 to help improve schools’ nutrition and physical activity environments. Many children are missing out on essential nutrients and adequate physical activity which may increase risk of overweight and lead to chronic health problems.
Through Fuel Up to Play 60, students are empowered to work with school decision-makers to plan and implement strategies to increase the amount of nutritious food choices and options for physical activity available in their schools. This effort encourages at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity and eating nutrient-rich foods including low-fat and fat-free milk, cheese, and yogurt, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
“We’re very excited that our school was selected to attend this year’s event at Ford Field,” said Rod Dishaw, Principal. “It’s an opportunity for these students to take part in a special leadership activity that will have a positive effect on the entire student body. We’re looking forward to implementing the new ideas they bring back and will encourage students to embrace these healthy lifestyle changes.”
This year’s kickoff event, the third annual, is presented by the Detroit Lions, Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) and United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM). The day’s “game plan” includes music, motivational talks, practicing football training camp-style skills with Detroit Lions players and trainers, and tasty food.
The pre-game includes a healthy breakfast, followed by an energetic pre-game show with Jill Jayne, “Jump with Jill!” rock star nutritionist and registered dietician. The first quarter kicks off with a pep talk by Luther Elliss, former Detroit Lions defensive tackle and two-time Pro Bowler, and Herman Moore, former Detroit Lions wide receiver and four-time Pro Bowler, followed by the announcement of individual school “teams” as they run through the player tunnel onto the field for the second quarter “training camp.” Here, students will be led through practice drills with Ellis, Moore, Lions trainers, and current player defensive end Cliff Averil.
The halftime show revolves around a “taste and vote” tailgate, where participants sample a variety of healthy menu options, vote for their favorites, and hear from National FUTP 60 Student Ambassador Tyler Kwapis. During the third quarter, former physical educator and action-based learning expert Jean Blaydes Madigan reveals the secret of boosting brain power through exercise. The fourth quarter features “training tips” on eating healthy and being active from Detroit Lions wide receiver, Nate Burleson.
The “post-game celebration” showcases what may be the state’s largest flash workout session to the tune of the Jill Jayne’s, “Beat Of Our Body,” an energizing dance routine created by the Rockstar Nutritionist.
In its third year, Fuel Up to Play 60 is reaching more than 3,000 Michigan schools and more than 1.4 million Michigan students. To date, more than 70,000 schools have participated in the “Fuel Up to Play 60” program in the United States and provided opportunities to make positive and lasting changes to nutrition and physical activity programs affecting millions of students.
To learn more about the “Fuel Up to Play 60” program, visit www.FuelUpToPlay60.com.
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The United Dairy Industry of Michigan is the umbrella organization for the Dairy Council of Michigan and the American Dairy Association of Michigan. These non-profit organizations provide nutrition education services and dairy product promotion support. See www.udim.org.
About Fuel Up to Play 60
Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by the National Dairy Council (NDC) and the National Football League (NFL), with additional partnership support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
Fuel Up to Play 60 is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. Customizable and non-prescriptive program components are grounded in research with youth, including tools and resources, in-school promotional materials, a website and student challenges. Fuel Up to Play 60 is further supported by several health and nutrition organizations: Action for Healthy Kids, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dietetic Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association and School Nutrition Association. Visit www.FuelUpToPlay60.com to learn more. Media resources, including related video footage and photos, are available at www.FuelUpToPlay60MediaResources.com.
About the National Dairy Council
The National Dairy Council (NDC) is the nutrition research, education and communications arm of Dairy Management Inc. On behalf of U.S. dairy farmers, NDC provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier society, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. Established in 1915, the NDC is dedicated to educating the public on the health benefits of consuming milk and milk products throughout a person’s lifespan. For more information, visit www.NationalDairyCouncil.org.
About NFL PLAY 60
Designed to help tackle childhood obesity, NFL PLAY 60 brings together the NFL’s long-standing commitment to health and fitness with partner organizations like the NDC. NFL PLAY 60 is also implemented locally, as part of the NFL’s in-school, after school and team-based programs. For more information, visit www.NFLRush.com.
©2010 NFL Properties, LLC. Team names/logos/indicia are trademarks of the teams indicated. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League.
Appearances by Cliff Averil, Luther Ellis, Jason Hanson and Herman Moore were scheduled by NFL PLAYERS, the marketing and licensing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association.