Schools
Sligh Middle Magnet School Hosts Health and Safety Fair
Students partner with USF's College of Public Health to celebrate Public Health Awareness Week.
Safety was the word of the day at Sligh Middle Magnet School's health fair and family fun Saturday. The school's Health Occupations Students of America members joined forces with the University of South Florida's College of Public Health to host the event, which featured a variety of information stations and activities.
USF students and volunteers were on hand to discuss issues such as wearing a helmet and fire safety. The fair also included health-related activities that focused on the importance of eating healthy and getting plenty exercise. Participants received a Passport to Safety, which was stamped at each of the stations.
Ellen Kent, coordinator for USF's College of Public Heath, said the event was one of a series of outreach efforts to promote Public Health Week, which runs through Sunday. Safety was this year's theme.
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Kent kept things lively as students checked in with her to receive their passports, then returned them completed for a prize.
"The ideas is to make it fun," Kent said.
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The event also featured a performance by the school band and a demonstration by students from the Tae Kwon Do Master Academy.
Alyssa Garcia, 14, an eighth grader at Sligh and president of the school's HOSA chapter, served as an AVID ambassador at the event. AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a district-wide college- readiness program.
"It gives me the skills I need to better my learning," Garcia said.
Garcia hasn't decided for sure, but she thinks she would like to be a pediatrician when she grows up. Programs like HOSA and Avid are helping her on that path. She enjoyed sharing information about the program, and loves being a student at Sligh Middle Magnet for a lot of reasons, but especially because of the dedication of the teachers, she said.
Diana Reyez and her sons Armando, 5, and Eric, 11, visited the fair because Eric is interested in attending a magnet school next year. They wanted to see the school and learn about the programs Sligh Middle Magnet offers.
Whether they came for fun or to learn something new, there was something to keep everyone busy at the event.
"Everyone seems to like (the fair)," Garcia said.
And the best part?
"They get an insight into what an awesome school this is," she said.