By Charles Lane

The Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC) and the Mystic Learning Center (MLC) recently partnered on a Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds workshop for families, which included a delicious and healthy meal from Dave’s Fresh Pasta, and opportunities to discuss PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports) in the schools and physical activity programming offered in afterschool programs and throughout the community.

Families were introduced to PBIS by Barbara Strell, a staff member at the Arthur D. Healey School. Families then engaged in several fun SPARK activities led by Nick Ortolani who works at the Mystic Learning Center. The SPARK program is being implemented both during the school day as well as at school-based and community-based afterschool programs. SPARK implementation is part of the Physical Education Program’s (PEP) goal of strategically aligning and increasing physical activity programming offered to our students. The evening culminated with an interactive PARKOUR demonstration that had workshop participants jumping, balancing, and swinging their way around the room.

The Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds events are an ongoing series of workshops offered as part of a partnership between SLFC, PEP, and the afterschool programs throughout the city. Monday night’s event was the first in which the Healthy Bodies Healthy Mind workshop series included a community-based afterschool program. We look forward to continuing to foster and support strong partnerships and connections between in-school time and out-of-school time while promoting “A Culture of Health Living” for our students and their families.

Learn more about Somerville PEP and ways in which you and your family can stay healthy and active year-round at www.somerville.k12.ma.us/pep. The PEP program is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.