Friday, September 30, 2011

Congrats to one of Bham's Healthiest Employers!

Patriot Challenge Update:  Only two points separated first, second, third and fourth place this week.   Congratulations to:  HBOE First Place=48 pts.   HHS and SCES 47pts. (tiebreaker for second/third with HHS on top based on percent of participation).  Edgewood 46pts = third place.  Our surpise attack winner was Merrick Wilson.  She won an hour session at Birmingham School of Massage which will be perfect after she completes her first Half Marathon this weekend.  Good Luck and Congrats to Merrick! 

Self Defense Update:  Thursday, October 6th from 4-5pm at Hall Kent gymnasium Officer Jon Newland of Homewood Police Department will train HCS employees on safety and self-defense.  $25 fee is a small amount to pay to learn the tactics necessary for safety.  Over 20 people have expressed interest in training.  Hope to see you there.

Basketball is Back:  Thanks to JaVonka Ward and Officer Fox at HMS your hoop dreams continue!  We will now host basketball on Friday mornings at 6am at HMS.  Please email me or respond to this blog if you plan on being there.  We will start next Friday, October 7th. 

Professional Development Walk to O'Henry's:  Join us for the 2nd Annual HCS employee walk to coffee in celebration Nat'l Walk to School Month.  Meet at HBOE @ 6:30am, we will walk to the downtown O'Henry's location.  Bus transport provided back to HBOE.  If you are interested in biking  to coffee we will depart from HHS at 6am. 

Komen Race for the Cure:  Follow this link, register for the walk/run to be held at Linn Park, Downtown Bham.  Bus transport provided from HHS to the event and back to HHS after the race.  Team goal=100 participants!

http://ncalabama.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/BHM_NorthCentralAlabamaAffiliate/172093044?pg=team&fr_id=2168&team_id=188204

Step Aerobics @ HMS:  HMS is planning to start a step aerobics class.  Please email me if you are interested in this great cardio/strength training program.

The Movement calendar:  Check the calendar linked to The Movement Blog for updates on Spinning, Yogalates and Tap dance classes.

CONGRATULATIONS TO HOMEWOOD CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR BEING SELECTED AS ONE OF BIRMINGHAM'S HEALTHIEST EMPLOYERS AS VOTED ON BY BIRMINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL!!!!!!    The wellness program can only succeed if employees begin to make healthier choices.  You have made the choice to succeed.  I am so glad to be a part of this team.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Get Moving!

Thanks to Hall Kent, HMS and Edgewood for allowing me to visit grade level meetings and faculty meetings over the past two weeks.  I look forward to visiting SCES and re-visiting HMS next week.  I've gotten great feedback about what your ideas are for improving and expanding Movement options. 

Zumba Update: Ms. Parker, our Zumba expert, is now an istructor at Riviera Fitness.  The owner has offered educators a GREAT deal.  $15 per month, no signup fee, unlimited classes included.  Marta teaches Zumba on Tuesday @ 6:35pm, Thursday @ 5:30pm and Saturday @ 10:45am.  Get there!

IronTribe Update:  In one word "ouch".   We are currently experiencing DOMS=  Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, best remedy is continue to train!   

5k for Adoptions:  October 1, 5pm @ Hoover High School.  See below for details from Kelly Reaves.  Email Kelly Reaves @ HHS for details.

5K Registration Form[1][1]

Self-Defense Class: October 6th @ Hall Kent gym, 4-5pm.  Get certified, be safe while you shop, run or walk. 15 of you have expressed interest.  Please be sure this is on your calendar.  Officer Jon Newland of the Homewood Police Department will be instructing.

October 10th: Second Annual HCS Walk to Coffee @ O'Henrys.  In celebration of Nat'l Walk to School Month.  Meet @ HBOE office @ 6:30am, we will walk down to O'Henry's, bus transportion provided back to your vehicle @ HBOE.  If you work at HHS, please park at HHS @ 6:15am, ride the bus to HBOE, walk to O'Henry's then hop back on the cheesewagon for your return trip to HBOE then HHS>

Race for the Cure:  October 15 @ Linn Park.  Copy/paste the following into your browser.  We are shooting for 100 participants from The Movement.  Transportation provided to the event, via yellow cheese wagon!  https://secure.info-komen.org/site/TRR/RacefortheCure/BHM_NorthCentralAlabamaAffiliate/262177100?pg=ptype&fr_id=2168

Update on Patriot Point Challenge:  The trophy is on the MOVE.  HBOE won week 2 of the Patriot Point Challenge.  Keep posting those points and keep MOVING.

The Movement has an option for you!  Please be sure to check the calendar posted on HCS mainpage, click on Employee Information, click on The Movement, click on Calendar for updates. 

The Movement on Twitter.  @Spinspur!  Follow our Moves..

Friday, September 16, 2011

Patriot Point Challenge Results

Great first week of competition.  Congrats to Shades Cahaba Owls for winning the team trophy and to Mary Thomas who won the Surprise Attack.  Team competition was close, coming down to a tie breaker based on % of employees logging in points-Shades had 44% logging in points, HHS had 36%.  This year the competition will be closer b/c the BIG SCOREBOARD has four categories.  1.  Average points per employee 2.  Increase in average points per employee 3.  Percent of employees participating 4. Increase percent of employees participating.  The bottom line is this:  EXERCISE and TURN in POINTS EACH MONDAY! 

TRIBE UPDATE:  Next week, 20 HCS Movement participants will begin IronTribe powered by CrossFit.  GOOD LUCK!

BASKETBALL UPDATE:  We will look for another time for basketball due to the CrossFit schedule.  Respond to the blog if you are interested in Hoopin' and Hollerin'.

YOGALATES UPDATE:    Check The Movement Blog Calendar for next class time.

TAP DANCE UPDATE:  One of the tap dancers is our first Surprise Attack winner.  Maybe you should tap too?

Komen Race for the Cure:  Training with Melonie McBrayer, Thursday afternoons.  Please join this group.  Great race/great cause.  Walkers are welcome!  Race day is October 15th will provide bus transportation to the event, please respond to the blog or email me for details. 

Self Defense Class:  At Hall Kent Elementary gym, October 6th.  4-5pm, please email/blog if you are interested.  We have 12 participants signed up.  If you are a walker, runner,  biker or just a holiday shopper you will benefit from this class. 

Railroad Park Fitness:  Free fitness provided by BCBS.  http://www.railroadpark.org/events-get-healthy.html



 

 

 

 

 


REMEMBER:  Monday morning you will log in points from 9/12-9/18.  Your Patriot Pack Leader will email the hyperlink to your Week #2 Tally Card.  Be sure you log in points with the Tally Card emailed to you on MONDAY of each week.  You will have until 4pm on Tuesday to get your points submitted via the online tally card. 


KEEP MOVING!

Friday, September 9, 2011

Heart Health and Ms. Grace

Hope you all survived the power outages and heavy rains.  I lost a huge sweet gum tree but gained a wonderful lesson about my heart.  The sweet gum came crashing down, landing across the street and into Ms. Grace's azaleas.  Ms. Grace is a retired Bham Southern professor who now volunteers weekly at the local jail teaching the basics of math to inmates.  She is very independent even after hip replacement and heart surgery.  When the tree fell, the rain continued.  I looked out the window and saw Ms. Grace out there pulling branches away from her "Midnight Blue Azaleas".  She finally gave in for the afternoon and (as I later found out later) began calling Mayor McBrayer, the city sanitation and anyone else she could think of who might come out to take care of the tree (and her Azaleas).  The following day, Mayor McBrayer paid two visits and eventually the tree was removed.  I came home from school at 3:45 to find Ms. Grace, still out there raking leaves and pulling branches away from her precious flowers.  After a day at work, most of us want to do nothing more than to unwind just for a few minutes, in silence.   Thanks to the encouragement from a dear friend, I put on my boots and overalls, walked across the street and began helping Ms. Grace.  She chatted non-stop for the entire two hours, we talked about teaching, her new career at the jail, the storm and of course... her azaleas.  Those two hours were the best "heart" workout I had all week.  Grace is good for your heart... 

Other great heart reports:    120/80 is the suggested optimal range for blood pressure.  One of our HCS employees shared with me his annual doctor visit results for BP at 123/78- pretty close to perfect.  This certain employee has one of the most stressful jobs in education but has made exercise and good nutrition a priority.  Are you stressed?  When is the last time you have had your BP checked?  Do you exercise?  We have a nurse in every school.  Walk down there and ask if she could give you a quick BP checkup! 

"Are you a runner?"  Allison Glover would have answered NO to this question just a few months ago.  BUT, because of encouragement from Rebecca Shields, Allison participated in Mercedes Marathon, The Spirit Scamper, Race to the Courthouse 5K and Are UABle (where she placed second in her age division).  This week, Allison was at the docs office for a checkup, the doc looked at the results of her EKG and asked, "Are you a runner, you have such a strong heart?"  Her answer........ "YES".

So, How is your heart?  Do you need some Grace, some exercise, some better nutrition?  The Movement offers opportunities for your heart and more!  Check out the calendar on the blog site (click on the hyperlink to view) for the Movement Schedule of classes. 

Komen 5K is 5 weeks away.  Do you want to train to walk or run?  Melonie McBrayer will be meeting on the Shades Creek Greenway each week on Thursdays after school to help you prepare for this event.  Please respond to this blog if you are interested.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Special 9/11 Spin class on Monday.  Rebecca Shields was a student in NYC on 9/11.  Come to Spin on Monday, Endurance Ride and video presentation 3:30-4pm and 4pm to 4:30.

Tap Dancers!  Wow, heard  you all had a great workout thanks to  MJ Coker.  Keep Moving.

Final Call for IronTribe:  Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 6am.  $80 per month.  Email me if you are interested.  Later today, I will send out an email to the folks who have already committed.  Get ready for the most complete fitness/nutrition instruction in the Bham area. 

Patriot Points will be emailed on Monday!  You will get and email from your Patriot Pack Leader explaining the process for reporting your Patriot Points.  Remember one hour of exercise = ONE Patriot Point. 

Have a great weekend and Keep Moving!

Friday, September 2, 2011

Countdown to Competition!


SCES Represents 2010-'11 Runner-Up in Patriot Point Challenge


Monday 9/5 begin to compete-Patriot Point Challenge is "ON".  I will be visiting each worksite to give a brief presentation to further explain what the PPC is all about.  For now, you just need to know one thing...... Get MOVING.  One hour of exercise = One Patriot Point.  30 minutes of exercise = 1/2 Patriot Point.  Do the exercise, do the math, report the points.  Thanks to Justin Cannady, the reporting process will be simplified.  Each Monday you will get an email from your Patriot Pack Leader with a link to electronically report your points.  Be sure to report by 3pm each Monday to get credit for your hard work. The first week of competion is next week-Monday 9/5 thru Sunday 9/11.  Get MOVING.

Schedule for Next Week: 

Tuesday 6am @ HHS- Hoopstars with the "Saint" aka Dexter- Last week we had 9 including Dr. "Threeland" aka Cleveland.  Email me (nivada) if you are coming to hoop it up!

Tuesday 3:45 HHS Dance Room.  Tap Dance with MJ Coker.  Email MJ for details and to let her know you are coming.  Shoes and space to tap provided thanks to Ms. Ayers.

Wednesday 3:45-4:45 HHS Choir Room.  Yogalates with Alida.  Email/RSVP Alida to let her know your are ready to "stretch your limits" at Yogalates.  Thanks to Scott Thorne for being "flexible" and allowing us to use his room.

Wednesday 4:00-4:45pm Spin @ HHS.  We will enjoy a repeat performance of the "FROOT LOOP" Ride.  SuperSpinners had breakfast provided this morning when we finished our Loop course.  Fun one, you don't wanna miss it.

Friday 6am SuperSpinners @ HHS.  One word-Sprint. Not ready for a complete race yet, but I will introduce the Sprint.  Be sure to bring some H20  =)

Update on IronTribe:  YES.  We have confirmed that this will happen for HCS The Movement.  The Tribe leader, Forrest Walden, is confirming his coaching staff and time frame.  If you are interested but have not emailed me, please do so NOW.  Space is limited, so I want to be sure you get in to take advantage of this special opportunity.  $80 per month is the special rate for The Movement.  Email me for details. 

Race for the Cure Training:  If you would like to run or walk your first 5K, I will be organizing training teams and plans.  Please email me if you would like to train for this amazing event.  Susan G. Komen is October 15.  Six weeks to train-Get Moving!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

SELF DEFENSE CLASS AT HHS.  One of our very own Homewood Police Officers, Jon Newland,  will be offering a self-defense class for The Movement.  This class is a must for anyone who is out there walking, running or biking.  Jon has a long list of credentials (see below).  He will be offering the class for $25 (regularly $75).  Please email me if you are interested.  We must have at least 10 participants.  Class schedule will be announced after initial email response. 

Jon's Credentials:

KICK BOXING BLACK BELT
AKAYAMA RYU JIU JITSU BROWN BELT
GOLDEN TIGER KUNG FU BROWN BELT
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
KRAV MAGA INSTRUCTOR
OWNER OF BLUE LINE COMBATIVES
POLICE COMBATIVES INSTRUCTOR
HOSTAGE RESCUE TACTICAL TEAM OPERATOR

Opportunity to Move:

October 1:  East Walker Chamber of Commerce 5K:  The race is in conjunction with a local arts and crafts festival called the "Frog Festival"  for more details email Jeremy Justice.  Registration available online:

 

GET MOVING! SpinSpur