"Shannon, I really like your hat. It's shiny!"

Congratulations to some of our newly-crowned High School and Collegiate state queens! Miss Kansas High, Callie Hobkirk, Miss California High, Bianca Vierra, and Miss Hawaii High, Angelica Reyes, will be representing their states at the 2012 Miss High School America Pageant! In addition, Miss California Collegiate, Danielle Martin and Miss Hawaii Collegiate, Alyssandra Baniqued will have the opportunity to compete in the 2012 Miss Collegiate America Pageant in San Antonio, TX. It’s going to be an incredible week!

While I’m in a celebratory mood, I’d also like to congratulate my 2008 Outstanding Teen sister, Rachel Foehlinger on her Wednesday night Preliminary Talent win at the Miss Nebraska Pageant and wish another of my OT sisters, Alasyn Zimmerman, the best of luck at the Miss Kansas Pageant this weekend! Go girls!

It’s been another week of crazy, albeit beautiful, weather here in Maine and I had the pleasure of speaking with the K-2 students of Fairfield School in Saco yesterday, who remained focused and engaged in spite of the humid, 95 degree conditions! Fairfield School, my alma mater, has been educating its students about the 5-2-1-0 Let’s Go! Program for several years now. Students are learning about the importance of proper exercise and good nutrition, and had no problem answering my questions about the meaning behind the numbers “5-2-1-0”. It’s so important that children be taught healthy habits at a young age and that educators support and promote proper exercise and nutritional habits. After all, kids spend 30+ hours at school each week and eat one or two of their major meals there each day. The classroom should be a place of nurturing both mind AND body! Yesterday, the students and I engaged in a conversation about our favorite summertime activities, our favorite fruits and vegetables and the importance of getting plenty of rest and properly fueling our bodies. I also shared a few fun activities with them that they can do to keep themselves moving while watching TV. These activities included marching, holding Chair Pose, (miming) skipping rope, and hula hooping. Here’s a link to one 5210 PDF which lists some other quick activity break ideas: Quick Physical Activity Breaks I’ll also share a PDF which lists some ‘Go Foods’, ‘Slow Foods’ and ‘Whoa Foods’: Go Foods Slow Foods Whoa Foods

At the end of the presentation, I sang for the students. My point: Each and every one of us has a passion, and whether it is singing, acting, playing an instrument, or participating in sports, we must keep our bodies and minds healthy in order to perform well. A huge thank-you to Fairfield for allowing me to come in and share my message with the students! Below are a few pictures.