A national organization has been working with The Varnett Public School's Northeast students in Houston twice a week to improve their health and wellness choices and to spread the word to other teens.
The organization is called HealthCorps, which addresses health inequities in at-risk communities, and the program is Teens Make Health Happen. The targeted groups at the Northeast campus are seventh and eighth graders.
A mentor engages the teens in interactive health lessons and challenges them to become leaders in spreading the word to their peers. In addition to leadership, Teens Make Health Happens focuses on nutrition, fitness and mental resilience.
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“The program is designed to promote kids to stay healthy,” said Mr. John-Michael Cook, the campus P.E. coach. “We want to make sure that all kids understand that if they stay healthy, they will have a better life. We are so thankful to have this program at our school.”
HealthCorps mentor Jada Prescott works with the Northeast students.
“Once their peers see them active, speaking up and being a leader, they will be motivated to join their friends,” Ms. Prescott said.
Corlyn Bay, a Northeast campus eighth grader, talked about the various exercises like pushups, situps, squats, stretching and back turns. She said Teens Make Health Happen has affected her in several positive ways.
"I like the program because it has helped me stay fit, to be positive and to be a leader -- and it's fun," Corlyn said. "We do fitness activities, mental health activities and there are different kinds of things we do to help the school and to help the community be great."