Relaying a Message
CENTER TWP — Center Township Elementary School students spent a lot of time in the bright sunshine and under blue skies Friday.
It was the right kind of day to learn about sun protection — one of the topics included during the school's daylong Relay Recess.
This is the sixth year for the free program in the Butler School District.
Relay Recess is part of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. The event provides resources on healthy eating, sun safety, physical fitness and tobacco use prevention.
Center Township third-grade teacher Megan Ratica led the program for four years at Broad Street Elementary School. This was the second year of Relay Recess for Center Township's 750 students.
“My family has been affected greatly by cancer, and I made a promise that I would fight until this disease didn't need to be fought anymore and I intend to keep that promise,” Ratica said.
She said the program aligns with the school's educational standards.
“Cancer somehow, some way, has touched every single one of us,” said Jeffrey Mathieson, school principal. “This is a way as a school community to really unite and stand behind something that we feel is making a difference. For the kids it's a proactive approach in promoting healthy living and healthy choices and really just awareness.”
Ratica said every student in the school — kindergarten through fourth grade — and every staff member are involved, as well as people in the community.
The Unionville Volunteer Fire Company had a station. Staff from ATA Taekwondo taught classes. Keystone Wellness representatives helped with tobacco use prevention.
The radiation therapist program of the Community College of Allegheny County gave sun safety lessons. Focus Fitness let the students experience Zumba. Peter Bess, children's librarian at the Butler Public Library, read stories with healthy eating themes to the students.
Ratica said their support, time and resources allow the program to continue.Preparation and publicity for Relay Recess started months ago when students held several fundraising events, including an auction of raffle baskets prepared by school staff that brought in $1,200 in student quarters.The funds support two cancer society programs. Road to Recovery helps those with cancer by providing transportation to medical appointments. Look Good Feel Better offers services plus makeup and skin care products for those receiving chemotherapy and radiation.Last year's Relay Recess at Center Elementary raised about $7,000.Emma Craven, the community manager for Relay for Life in Butler, Armstrong and Allegheny counties, said Relay for Life and Relay Recess raised more than $200,000 in all of Butler County last year.“People don't realize that the money they are raising does, in fact, come back to the Butler County area. It provides programs and services to survivors and their families free,” Craven said.“The idea is to teach the kids healthy habits,” said Leeann Cramer, manager at ATA Taekwondo Center in Butler.Students also learn about leadership. On Friday about 20 fourth-grade volunteers led younger students through the Relay Recess stations.“I do it because I believe in teaching students more than the academics,” Ratica said. “They learn communication skills. They learn to help others. They learn to be a part of something bigger than them and bigger than our school.”Ratica said Relay Recess is a team effort.“It's important for people to realize the amount of community support, the amount of family support and the support from our building administration and staff is phenomenal,” she said.“(Megan) brings a unique creativity to them. She's very passionate and that brings everything together. It would not work if she was not as passionate as she is. The teachers who support her and her friends make all the difference. It's very hard to find a close-knit community that will rally around an individual who comes up with the idea to hold an event like this,” Craven said.During Relay Recess, three individuals from the Taekwondo center introduced groups of 40 students to Taekwondo in 20- to 30-minute lessons.“We teach them a beginner Taekwondo lesson just like we would for any of our students who come in for the first time,” Cramer said.Relay Recess also includes a walking segment when students carry signs to honor people in their lives who have had cancer.“I think it was meaningful for the kids. It's hard to have a loved one affected by cancer but kids don't necessarily have an outlet to express those feelings,” Cramer said.She said through the event students learn how to support others who have lost someone to cancer.“Parents are grateful for the program because it makes cancer — which is such a difficult topic — kid friendly,” Ratica said. “It gives them the opportunity to have that conversation with their child.”Mathieson said the parents, students and staff deserve a celebration and the event is fun.“It takes all of us together to make a difference. As individual parts we are capable, but as a team we are powerful,” Mathieson said.
