Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/939681
"School nurses are at the front lines for public health," says Boyer-Chu, United Educators of San Francisco. "We play a role in creating a healthier society." P r e v e n t i n g o b es i t y A record number of students are over weight and at risk of developing diabetes and heart problems. In fact, some experts say today 's youth will live shorter lives than their parents. Nancy Semerjian, a school nurse at Limerick Ele- m entar y S cho ol in Winn etka in th e S an Fernando Valley, hopes to change that grim prognosis by help- ing students stay fit and eat healthier, while having fun at the same time. She joined the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a national program dedicated to keeping students physically active and nutritionally aware. With nearly $5,000 in grant money from Healthier Generation and from Kaiser Permanente, she converted a classroom into a circuit gym for students. There are punching bags, treadmills, balance pillows, power ropes, bike p e d a l s , h u l a h o o p s , y o g a m a t s a n d y o g a c l a s s e s . Students use the room an hour per week and sometimes more, going from station to station. "Oh my gosh, the kids love it," says the United Teachers Los Angeles member. Semerjian had the campus designated as a "tasting school," to sample healthy foods the district is considering serving. Students feel important being "taste testers" and have given thumbs up to turkey dogs, whole-grain bread and other healthy choices. She created a five-minute workout for the student body first thing in the morning. Fifth-graders provide instruc- tions over the intercom and play music as students march in place, do jumping jacks, squats and deep breathing. The routine has a calming ef fect on students and transitions them into work mode. Semerjian started lunchtime walking clubs and provided pedometers to students through another grant from Fire Up Your Feet, an organization dedicated to movement. Last year, students walked a total of 5,000 miles at school, and their goal is to beat that record this year. She partnered with Vision to Learn, a program that provides free eye exams and glasses for students, and is involved with the school's social-emotional learning team, which helps students cope with bully- ing and other problems. "Everyone thinks I put Band-Aids on and let children lie down in my office, but that is just a small part of my job description," says Semerjian. "In addition to overseeing programs helping students stay healthier, I manage health plans of students with colostomies, catheters, feeding tubes and food allergies. e job of a school nurse is keeping students in school — despite health challenges they face. It's a demanding job, but I love what I do." H e l p i n g t e e n m o m s a n d t h e i r ba b i es Thanks in part to the support of school nurse Yolanda Cuevas, Ana Perez had a healthy baby girl, finished high school and became a caring mother to Adamary, who is now 13 months old. "Yolanda encouraged me to never give up, and I didn't," says Perez, now 20, who still regularly visits the school nurse who made such a difference in her life. 29 F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 018 The job is to keep students in school — despite health challenges they face. it's a demanding job, but i love what i do." — NANCY SEMERJIAN, UNITED TEACHERS LOS ANGELES "