Second-grade students throughout the district received a special lesson on healthy eating and living a healthy lifestyle with the help of varsity student-athletes from the Valley Stream Central High School District’s Scholarship, Character, Outreach, Respect and Excellence Club on Feb. 5. The high schoolers visited Clear Stream Avenue, Forest Road and Shaw Avenue elementary schools throughout the school day to educate the students through engaging games and activities. 

The wellness workshop, “Developing Healthy Eating Habits,” came to fruition through the Inter-District Wellness Committee, made up of representatives from each Valley Stream school district. Valley Stream District 30 and the Valley Stream Central High School District have collaborated for the past six years to enhance educational opportunities. 

With the guidance of advisers Britt Klein and Joanna Katz, the S.C.O.R.E. Club allows students to become more actively involved in school activities and community affairs. During the workshop, the second-graders received a presentation from the high school students on the different food groups, emotional health, the importance of a balanced diet and staying active. They then formed small groups, worked in stations and participated in activities with the high schoolers, which focused on eating healthy foods and exercising. 

“I think it’s a good experience to be with the younger students because we were once that age and we’re teaching them about the things that we learned,” said S.C.O.R.E. Club co-president Arianna Picillo. “It’s a humbling experience.” 

The annual partnership between the two districts allows the high schoolers to serve as role models to the second-graders and gives the younger students a new and exciting learning experience. Many of the S.C.O.R.E. Club members attended Valley Stream 30 schools as elementary students and enjoyed returning to their former buildings.

“It felt really good to give back to the community,” said S.C.O.R.E. Club co-president Aliyah Evans. “I went to Shaw Avenue and seeing the teachers really brings back good memories.”