Get Moving Manchester's winning schools announced

For the second year in a row, McLaughlin Middle School and Highland-Goffe's Falls Elementary School received awards for the highest participation in Get Moving, Manchester. The voluntary wellness program, which just completed its 16th year, encourages students in grades three through six to establish and maintain healthy lifestyle choices.

Students use a Get Moving, Manchester log over the course of four weeks to keep track of eating, exercise, and screen time based on 5-2-1-0 goals.  Following 5-2-1-0 guidelines means:
• eating 5 fruits and vegetables a day
• spending 2 hours or less on the computer, watching TV, playing video games, or texting
• getting at least 1 hour of physical activity a day
• drinking 0 sugar-based beverages.

This year, 1,432 students tracked their nutrition and activity goals all four weeks. Highland-Goffe's Falls and McLaughlin had the highest rates of participation, 97% and 93%, respectively. Mayor Gatsas presented those schools with a trophy. Several schools considerably increased their participation from last year: Northwest (88%), Beech Street (83%), Smyth Road (87%), and Jewett Street (78%) all did a great job promoting the benefits of Get Moving, Manchester.

Participating Get Moving, Manchester students had the chance to win fun prizes when they completed their weekly logs. Those prizes include Palace Theatre tickets, Fisher Cats tickets, Spare Time Bowling coupons, and gift cards from Sky Zone and Indian Head Athletics. The students who participate all four weeks were eligible for the raffle to win the grand prize of a new bicycle from Bike Barn. The winning student was Emma Palanco, a sixth grader from Southside Middle School.

In addition to those businesses which provided generous donations, Get Moving, Manchester also was sponsored by Catholic Medical Center and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Manchester.