Nerge P.E. teacher helps students, staff focus on fitness and nutrition

Promoting healthy eating and physical activity is a passion for Nerge School P.E. teacher Sara Creager.

As part of her continuing efforts, Creager launched new monthly publications for Nerge families and staff this past fall that tie in with the Children, Activity and Nutrition program founded in 2010 as a partnership among a number of other agencies in and around Schaumburg, including School District 54.

The mission of CAN is to align the community around opportunities that build a foundation of healthy activity and nutrition for children, and Creager said her focus was on creating opportunities that are sustainable and that anyone can do.

The publication for Nerge families offers students a fitness or nutrition challenge for the month - such as walking or eating fruits and vegetables - along with a daily log that students can turn in to Creager at the end of the month to be entered to win prizes donated by the Schaumburg Park District.

The Nerge staff publication features fitness tips and ideas, healthy recipes and a stress-relieving coloring page.

Creager said she has noticed that the daily log is prompting students and families to think even more about physical activity and nutrition. For instance, with the "Minutes Active Per Day" challenge, some students realized that time spent walking around the grocery store could help them meet their goal for that day.

"They're cognizant of fitting that in, and it's getting them to find more opportunities," she said.

Nerge staff has also worked to plan creative outdoor activities for families to participate in together. For instance, the school hosts a star scavenger hunt in the fall, and is planning a geocaching scavenger hunt tied in with Earth Day.

"We want to teach students how to get out and do simple, active things with their families," Creager said.

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