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Online Edition Archive

Students learn healthy living

Akron-Westfield students are benefiting from a $2,500 South Dakota Department of Health Division of Health & Medical Services grant. The Greater Hoyt School District was one of 15 South Dakota youth organizations that received this grant, according to A-W physical education teachers Linda Nielsen and Julie Ludwigs. “Our goal is to improve student and community awareness regarding the importance of a healthy lifestyle through daily physical activity and healthy eating,” Nielsen told the Greater Hoyt School Board. “The grant was used to enhance the physical education and health curriculum at Akron-Westfield Community School. Emphasis on the five components of physical education -- aerobics, body composition, strength, endurance and flexibility -- provided a guide to implementing the strategies and activities." Soon, community members will also benefit from this grant as the P.E. teachers will host an evening program to help people also learn the importance of having a healthy lifestyle. With the grant money, the P.E. teachers purchased: • Six heart monitor watches, which allow students to track their heart rates before, during and after exercising; • 24 auto-timer pedometers which document the number of steps students take, how many calories they burn and the miles they walk; • 12 Character Education Digi-walkers, which have one word of the Character Counts traits on each; and • Other items for students to use in P.E. and health classes, including 1) a flannel board of the new food pyramid with plastic food to help students learn nutrition. This is used by elementary students; 2) a compact disc about nutrition for middle school students; and 3) nutrition curriculum for students taking the health class. Ludwigs teaches physical education to second, third and fourth graders. She also teacher a high school health class. Nielsen instructs Discovergarten, Kindergarten and first graders. To date, the materials have been used with Discovergarten, Kindergarten, second, third and fourth graders and middle and high school health classes. They have also implemented “Snack Attack” in the elementary, which is held one day a month. On this day students either have a “Fruit Frenzy” or “Vegetable Frenzy.” In September, the students had apples, and in October, they had carrots. Future plans include active participation with middle and high school students. At the Nov. 13 Greater Hoyt School Board meeting, the teachers thanked the board for the grant opportunity. The board members also thanked the teachers for how they had used the grant funding. The teachers also presented this new curriculum at Parent-Teacher Conferences on Nov. 7 and 9 and to the Akron-Westfield School Board on Nov. 14.

Marijuana found at A-W School

Plymouth County K-9 Officers Sabot (above) and Jugger (below) searched Akron-Westfield Community School for drugs on Nov. 15. Plymouth County Deputy Sgt. Jeff Tebrink and Deputy Scott Dorhout took the dogs through the high school hallways searching the lockers and the gymnasium locker rooms. The drug dogs didn't find any, according to Tebrink, who is Jugger's partner and Dorhout, who is Sabot's partner. After the drug dogs searched the lockers and locker rooms, the Akron police officers were assisted by the Plymouth County sheriff's deputies in completing a physical search of the facility, said Akron Police Officer Josh Johnson. Marijuana was found, he said, adding the school district's new security equipment was instrumental in determining the alleged owner of the controlled substance. A 16-year-old male student was referred to Plymouth County Juvenile Court where he was cited for being in possession of a controlled substance - marijuana. This is the second year that Akron-Westfield School District has had K-9 drug searches. According to Johnson, both drug dogs and police officers will continue conducting random drug searches to keep A-W a safe place for children to learn. A-W is still the only school district to use dog drug searches in the county, said Dorhout, adding that they have had requests from other schools in the county but there hasn't been any follow through to set up the actual searches. Sabot is a 5-year-old German Shepherd that has been with the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office for 3.5 years. Jugger is a 2-year-old Doberman Pinscher who has been on duty for about a year. They are trained to find marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. Also, assisting were Akron Police Chief Kimm Nielsen and Officer Ryan Bergman.