February is Heart Awareness month and the students at Vista Charter Academy are doing their part to encourage healthy living. During a 3-week campaign, students participated in the Vista Kids Heart challenge and raised nearly $
1,499 for the American Heart Association.
Students learned the importance of heart health and different ways to keep their hearts happy and healthy by exercising 30 minutes a day, adding fruits and vegetables to their diet, avoiding vaping and tobacco, and helping others. During the campaign, students participated in fun activities during their P.E. classes - like jump rope - that would increase their heart rate and improve their overall heart health.
"We believe it is important to not only help our community through the Kids Heart Challenge, but also to educate ourselves and our students about ways to keep their own heart happy and healthy for a lifetime," said Stefanie Gillett, P.E. Instructor at Vista Charter Academy.
"Teaching students to help others, show kindness, eat their fruits and vegetables, and get exercise daily is important for a happy and healthy heart."
Reading is an important skill for students to learn and making reading fun and accessible is widely practiced throughout Vista Charter Academy. Students are able to experience an approach to reading that provides them with a variety of genres - from informational text to published works of fiction. This approach to literacy for their students aids in creating a lifelong love of reading.
"We help students learn to read, so they can read to learn."
Vista Charter students practice reading in all subject areas such as math, science, and social studies. Incorporating english language arts (ELA) in subjects outside of nonfiction literature has been proven to close learning gaps by providing essential background knowledge, especially for upper-elementary and middle schools.
At Vista Charter Academy, students are provided with a healthy balance of opportunities to practice fluency, collaborate with others, participate in writing workshops, and work alongside teachers in small groups to develop ELA skills. Students are given opportunities to practice their independent reading skills as well with books they choose personally from a variety of published works.
Located in Grand Rapids, Vista Charter Academy opened in 1996 and is home to over 700 students grades Y5-8. Vista Charter provides students with a balance of challenges and support to give students the tools they need to succeed now and in the future. With a well-rounded curriculum, college-prep academics and a focus on moral character, students leave Vista Charter Academy with skills and knowledge that will aid them in all of their future endeavours.
To learn more about Vista Charter Academy, visit their website at: