The faculty and staff at Hildreth Elementary School are shrinking. It’s not that positions are being cut or that the number of students per class is increasing. It’s just that teachers and staff members are getting smaller—a pound or two or three at a time.
During the first week back from winter vacation, 28 people at the elementary school lost an impressive total of 100 pounds with the HES Biggest Loser program. The program was organized by library media specialist Beth Cregan and school nurse Jennie Eklund and launched the first week in January.
Each person who wanted to take part started by finding a partner. Participants weighed in at the beginning and will continue to weigh in once a week. Each person also contributed $5 for the program, establishing a kitty that will be awarded to the pair of partners who lose the greatest percentage of their body weight by February 15, before the next vacation break.
According to Principal Linda Dwight, the partnership approach has been a key to the program success, with partners encouraging each other and sending each other small gifts like a piece of fruit.
“You don’t want to let your partner down,” Dwight said, “even when you might be tempted to cheat if it was just for you. . . . It has created a lot of neat energy and camaraderie.”
Exercise is part of the program, too. Groups of teachers and staff members are walking together—inside the building and outside, depending on weather—before and after school. Jennifer Sundeen gives a weekly after-school yoga class. Last week, the school offered pedometers to participants.
Dwight also credited help from the school cafeteria staff for the success of the program. She noted that cafeteria manager Diane Kerwin is aware that people are trying to cut down portions. For lunch, they can get a burger with salad instead of a roll.
