“Family Fit Night” hosted by Boost! Team at Troup School

Students and their families at Troup School had a chance to have fun while also learning how to stay fit and healthy at the school’s Family Fit Night on Tuesday, April 12, 2011.  The event featured a chance to  participate in a Zumba class, try out the newest Wii fit games, and many other fun activities that families can do together to be healthy and exercise.  Students and families were also treated to solo performances by Troup band students.  

As part of its ongoing commitment to promoting community health and education, United Way of Greater New Haven partnered with Covidien Surgical Devices to create and distribute “Get Fit Kits” to the students. The kits, donated by Covidien, are designed to encourage children’s physical activity outside of school.  The kits include a Frisbee, jump rope, hacky sac, small athletic ball, water bottle, pedometer, reflector light and obesity slide tool.  (See "Get Fit" at Barnard School.) 

Augusta Lewis Troup School is one of five schools piloting Boost!, the wraparound services partnership among United Way of Greater New Haven, the City of New Haven and the New Haven Public Schools, a component of the School Change initiative.  By coordinating community resources and fostering parent engagement, Boost! schools seek to ensure that all students have the support and services they need to succeed.

Troup School’s Boost! work team, led by Coordinator, Abby Ostruzka, hosted the evening as part of a series of parent engagement activities throughout the year including a CMT Bingo Night in February and a Literacy Night in December, which was the largest family event in the school’s history, with over 275 people in attendance.  Principal Michael Conner was pleased to see more than 250 students and family members come out to participate in the Boost! Family Fit Night.

The Health Heroes program , a partnership with Yale's Community Alliance for Research and Engagement (CARE) was also present at the event, giving children and their families a chance to commit to three different health challenges pertaining to nutrition and lifestyle.  Clinton Avenue, another one of the Boost! schools is also participating in the Health Heroes program.