Nearly 2,000 students in grades 6-10 in the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville, Mooresville Consolidated School Corporation, and Eminence School Corporation will participate in engaging, innovative, standards-based health education programs at their schools.
The Healthy Choices Project, made possible through a grant from the Kendrick Foundation, is being offered by Ruth Lilly Health Education (RLHE) at Marian University, a program committed to the mission of empowering youth and adults to make choices that lead to positive changes in Hoosier health.
The programs align with the Kendrick Foundation’s priority areas of mental health, prevention and management of obesity, and substance abuse prevention and rehabilitation. RLHE programs being presented are No Ifs Ands, or Butts; Body Talk; Drugs, Decisions and You: Opioids; and Adolescent Depression Awareness Program. Participating schools are Bell Intermediate Academy, John R. Wooden Middle School, Eminence Jr. Sr. High School, Paul Hadley Middle School, and Mooresville High School.
During a Drugs, Decisions and You: Opioids program, John R. Wooden Middle School students engage in a decision grid challenge, trying to find the correct path through the maze. Peers offered suggestions where to go next.
"I liked how interactive this presentation was especially with the key pads the students answered questions with," Christa Mathews, teacher at John R. Wooden Middle School, said.
During the Body Talk program at John R. Wooden Middle School, students are working together to arrange their beverages from lowest to highest amount of sugar. Every student was surprised to learn Sunkist has 84 grams!
"I liked the activities and students were interested,” Rochelle Racy, 7th grade science teacher, said. “Some great learning surprises for the students!"
For more information about the Healthy Choices Project or Ruth Lilly Health Education at Marian University, contact 317-524-7701.
About Marian University Indianapolis
Founded in 1937, Marian University is the only Catholic university in Indianapolis and central Indiana. In 2019, Marian is serving more than 2,400 undergraduate and 1,160 graduate students earning degrees in the arts, business, education, engineering, math, medicine, nursing, ministry, and the natural and physical sciences. The university’s high-impact, experiential curriculum is designed to provide hands-on, collaborative learning opportunities for students from 45 states and 23 nations. Marian climbed in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Midwestern rankings to be named #6 Most Innovative Regional University, #15 Best Value University, and #30 Best Regional University. Marian University opened its College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2013, making it the first new school of medicine in the state of Indiana in 110 years. Marian’s national champion varsity athletic programs include the 2012 and 2015 NAIA Football National Championship, the 2016 and 2017 NAIA Women’s Basketball Championship, and more than 40 USA Cycling national championships.