Olaf Winterfest 2018

Thank you to the families and friends and to our community for attending our Annual Olaf Winterfest! It was a wonderful event for families to get together and enjoy family time. We had face painting, snow sensory stations, games, a wonderful balloon artist, a bounce house, a chocolate fountain to dip marshmallows and fruits. And the best part is our guests Olaf himself and Princesses Elsa and Anna from the movie Frozen. 

Here are some pictures from our Winterfest!

Our Winterfest is an annual event so we hope to see you at next year's event!

6 Easy Ways to Stay Healthy During Cold and Flu Season

Flu shots are not foolproof and how well they work can vary season to season and how well the virus strains in the vaccine match up with the viruses circulating in the community. According to the Centers for Diseases Control, the vaccine was about 52 percent effective during the last flu season and about 60 percent effective the year before. However, the vaccine can also lessen flu symptoms if you do catch a cold.

So what's a good healthy person to do? Here are 6 easy ways to stay healthy during the cold and flu season.

• Exercise and meditate (not necessarily in that order): New research suggests that regular exercise and meditation may be among the best ways to reduce acute respiratory infections. Run on the treadmill, do yoga, walk, stretch and sniffle less. 
• Get your share of protein: Protein helps your body to produce immune cells, which in turn help fight infection! Good sources of protein includes: fish, eggs nuts and seeds, lentils, beans and tofu. An added bonus is that many of these foods also contain valuable infection fighting zinc and magnesium.
• Minimize stress: Stress puts lots of wear and tear on many of your body's systems. Your immune system, for one, is adly compromised, making it tougher to fight off germs. Try some meditation to deal with stress.
• Be anti-social: While it's true that being around friends can boost good health, this does not apply to when they are coughing or sneezing. Staying three feet or more away will help keep you in the "safe zone." 
• Carry your own stash: You'll be surprised at how much you touch your face, so keeping hand sanitizers around can be very handy.
• Get enough Zzzz's: Getting less than seven hours of sleep a night can increase your susceptibility to germs. Sleep helps your body function at its optimal level by producing protective substances that help you fight infections or inflammation.

Take charge of your health this cold and flu season!

National Dental Month

February is National Dental Month. The American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. In celebration, our students did toothbrush painting in the classrooms and it was a fun activity for everyone!

Here's 3 quick tips to improve your oral health:

• Invest in a good electric toothbrush: They are guaranteed to improve your brushing and oral health. Another benefit is that they have a timer which sets the toothbrush to work for 2 minutes.
• Floss every single day: Never skip a day of flossing!
• Brush your tongue: The same bacteria that causes gum diseases nd cavities will start to build up on your tongue in addition to your teeth and gums. This is the #1 cause of bad breath and brushing your tongue gets rid of this problem.

Lets live mouth smart and keep those smiles and laughs healthy!

National Wear RED Day

National Red Day is a day in February when many people wear red to show their support for the awareness of heart disease. The Heart Truth is a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. This awareness is designed to warn women of their #1 health threat. 

Here's 10 ways to take charge of your heart health:

• Schedule a yearly checkup: Each year on your birthday, schedule a checkup to have your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels checked.
• Get physical: Step, march or jog in place for at least 15 minutes while watching your favorite show.
• Drink more water: Take a water bottle with you wherever you go.
• Eat healthy: Keep unhealthy foods hidden and healthy snacks in front of th refrigerator so that's what you see first. 
• Control cholesterol: To help keep your cholesterol levels low, eat foods low in saturated fat and trans fat, such as lean chicken or turkey, fruits and veggies, low fat or fat free dairy products and whole grains.
• Cut down on salt: To help lower high blood pressure, watch your salt intake
• Quit Smoking
• Maintain a healthy weight: Excess weight increases your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. If you eat 200-300 calories less than you would normally and exercise at least 30 minutes on most days, you'll  be closer to your goal and achieve weight loss that's steady and painless.
• Stay positive: If you get off schedule, it's ok, it happens but immediately get back on track towards re-establishing a healthy lifestyle.
• Give yourself credit: Reward yourself by doing something you enjoy when reaching a heart healthy goal!

Here at the Academy of Heritage Commons, we support Heart Health!