Manchester, NH – Today, school partners and other guests were invited to observe McLaughlin Middle School’s standing classroom in action. The school received 15 LearnFit® Adjustable Standing Desks in September, which students, teachers, Ergotron, and New England Dairy & Food Council representatives worked together to unpack and assemble. Now several weeks have gone by of students using the desks, and so far, the feedback is positive.
“The standing desks are amazing; they strengthen your legs. When you walk out of Health class you feel energized.” Said Aniya, a student at McLaughlin.
Another student, Hayden, said, “It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to know that you’re treating your body better by doing something as easy as using a standing desk.” For now, the 15 standing desks are being used during health class.
McLaughlin also held a school-wide pep rally today to kick off their Fuel Up to Play 60 program for the 2018-2019 school year. Fuel Up to Play 60 is the nation’s leading in-school physical activity and nutrition program. Locally, the program is funded by the dairy farm families of New England and New England Dairy & Food Council. McLaughlin’s participation in Fuel Up to Play 60 is what made them eligible to receive the standing desks, which made an appearance during the pep rally.
“We wanted to showcase the desks during the pep rally to pique other student’s interest in using them in their classes. We’d love to expand the LearnFit Classroom Project to other rooms if we can. I’ve seen a noticeable difference in my own students, who are less distracted and more alert when using a standing desk.” explained Jacqueline Wilk, health teacher and Fuel Up to Play 60 Program Advisor at McLaughlin.
Studies continue to find positive correlations between movement and academic performance resulting in increased interest in movement-friendly classrooms. In light of this research, Ergotron is introducing low-level physical activity interventions into the classroom through products like the LearnFit® Adjustable Standing Desk. Through the LearnFit Classroom Project, a collaboration between Ergotron and Fuel Up to Play 60, the organizations aim to impact change in schools across the country focused on their shared objectives of building a healthy, high-achieving generation of youth.
The adjustable standing desks were provided to recipient schools in Manhattan, NY, Manchester, NH, Columbus, OH and Eagle, ID this back-to-school season. This effort marks Ergotron’s support of Fuel Up to Play 60 for the fourth consecutive year, reinforcing the companies’ ongoing commitment to help schools improve or expand their physical activity and nutrition programs through Fuel Up to Play 60.
For more information about Fuel Up to Play 60 in New England, follow New England Dairy & Food Council on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and visit NewEnglandDairyCouncil.org.
More Information
About New England Dairy & Food Council
New England Dairy & Food Council (NEDFC) is a non-profit nutrition education organization staffed by registered dietitians. NEDFC is a state and regional affiliate of the National Dairy Council® (NDC). Our goal is to ensure that health professionals, scientists, media and educators have a credible body of nutrition information upon which to base health recommendations.
About Fuel Up to Play 60
Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy Council (NDC) and National Football League (NFL), with additional partnership support from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
Fuel Up to Play 60 is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. Customizable and non-prescriptive program components are grounded in research with youth, including tools and resources, in-school promotional materials, a website and student challenges. Fuel Up to Play 60 is further supported by several health and nutrition organizations: Action for Healthy Kids, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association and School Nutrition Association. Visit FuelUpToPlay60.com to learn more.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
About NFL PLAY 60
In October of 2007, the NFL launched NFL PLAY 60, a national youth health and fitness campaign focused on increasing the wellness of young fans by encouraging them to be active for at least 60 minutes a day. Over the past decade, the NFL has partnered with leading academic, scientific and nonprofit organizations, including the American Heart Association, National Dairy Council, Special Olympics, Shriners Hospitals for Children, St. Jude, and the United Way, to help children of all abilities lead healthier, active lives. Since the launch of the campaign, the NFL has committed more than $350 million to youth health and fitness through programming, grants, and media time for PSAs; the NFL and its clubs have supported programs in nearly 73,000 schools nationwide, giving more than 38 million children the chance to boost physical activity levels and build a foundation for a healthy lifestyle. The NFL and its partners are committed to continuing the PLAY 60 movement for an active and healthier generation for years to come. For more information, visit nfl.com/PLAY60.
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