Matoaka PTA tackles childhood obesity with books
Instead of a dozen cupcakes or goody bags to celebrate a birthday at school, Matoaka Elementary School’s Parent Teach Association wants parents to donate a book in honor of their child. Read More – at the Virginia Gazette
February is National Heart Month
The PTA sponsored Healthy Lifestyles Program at Matoaka is committed to advocating health and wellness throughout the school. Operated by PTA Volunteers we offer programs and events that promote, educate and encourage good nutrition, physical activity and healthy behavior. Events & Activities This Month Friday, February 3rd National Wear Red Day Wear red and […]
Heart Healthy Valentine’s Day Alternatives
This year, many classrooms at Matoaka are supporting the “Healthy Celebrations and Snacks Initiative” by having Heart Healthy Valentine’s Day parties that include better alternatives to sugary sweets. Instead of lollipops, cupcakes and cookies some teachers are offering red, pink and white healthy options such as apples, yogurt, cheese sticks, popcorn, mini bagels with cream […]
Healthy Lifestyles Week
The PTA sponsored Healthy Lifestyles Program at Matoaka is committed to advocating health and wellness throughout the school. Operated by PTA Volunteers, we offer programs and events that promote, educate and encourage good nutrition, physical activity and healthy behavior. Each year, we celebrate HEALTHY LIFESTYLES WEEK with fun activities and healthy events for students and […]
Photos
Check out our latest photos from around the school! Have a picture that you’d like to share? Send it to tfitz@hotmail.com
Healthy Halloween Classroom Parties
Between the Tricks-or-Treats and the parties, Halloween can be a time of candy overload for kids. With that in mind, we thought it would be a good time to share some healthy alternatives to cupcakes and candy that are still fun and easy to make. You can find some of our favorites on our […]
Matoaka’s Birthday Book Club
Parents and teachers asked us for a fun and easy option to celebrate birthdays at school without sweet treats, so we created the Healthy Lifestyles Birthday Book Club. How It Works Instead of bringing cupcakes – Donate a book (hardcovers preferred!) to the school library and we will inscribe this lasting gift in your child’s honor. […]
Save the date! Dad’s Fire & a Flick Campout
FIRE AND FLICK EVENT 14 – 15 MAY 2016 The Matoaka Fire and a Flick Campout is an opportunity for fathers (and father figures) to share ideas, learn more about the school, and strengthen the Matoaka Elementary community while enjoying a relaxing evening watching a movie, hanging out, and camping under the stars with your kid(s). […]
Healthy End of the School Year Party Ideas
The Last Day Of School Is Almost Here… There is a lot to look forward to at the end of the school year; Field day, class parties, fun activities, and summer! But it is also the time of year when kids can sometimes get overloaded on sugary treats. The good news is, it is easy […]
October 2015 PTA Newsletter
Welcome back to school! Just a quick note to let you know what’s going on at Matoaka! In September: * We had our annual ice cream social along with the first PTA general membership meeting. We had a great turnout! * Thanks to our first spirit week fundraiser, Papa Murphy’s donated $500 to the school! […]
Healthy Classroom Snack Initiative
Dear Parents, To keep in line with the school wide initiative to have a healthier environment for our students, we are asking that parents only send in healthy foods for daily snacks. Foods don’t just fill the stomach; they also help to fuel the brain to think. The key is we need the right […]
Food Allergies & School Celebrations
In a continued effort to ensure the safety and well-being of our students here at school, we are asking for your understanding and cooperation with the following message from the school administration: Approximately 1:13 school-aged children in the United States have a potentially life threatening food allergy. More than 15% of these have had an […]
Apple Jicama Slaw
Matoaka Recipes > Apple Jicama Slaw 2013 Healthy Lifestyles Week Chef Demonstrations featured fresh apple jicama slaw prepared with local honey and apples. The recipe, demonstrated by executive Chef Chris Long of Second Street Restaurant, was a big hit with the children! Try it! FEATURED RECIPE Chef Chris Long’s Apple Jicama Slaw Ingredients […]
Red Pepper the Favorite at Pepperpalooza
Did your student come home wearing a “I Vote Green,” “I Vote Yellow” or “I Vote Red” sticker recently? Team Green, Team Yellow and Team Red were on hand Thursday, October 3rd to celebrate Pepperpalooza in the school cafeteria. As part of Matoaka’s Healthy Lifestyle Local Produce Initiative, fresh-from-the-farm bell peppers were delivered from […]
Matoaka’s New School Garden
There is a beautiful, new garden waiting to welcome you back to school this year! Volunteers have been hard at work over the summer adding new vegetable and flower beds, a butterfly garden, and much more. Matoaka students will have the opportunity throughout the year to care for the garden and participate in hands-on learning […]
Fun with Fruits and Vegetables
Classroom fruit and vegetable parties do not have to be boring! Try these fun animal themes and have a – Animal Party – zoo, circus, safari, puppy party, farm themes and more It’s A Bugs Life Party – bees, caterpillars, butterflies, spiders, etc Sea Animals Party – Finding Nemo, fish, beach, boats, bubbles, and many more […]
Matoaka’s Girl Power Club Featured
Matoaka’s 5th grade Girl Power club was recently featured in the Virginia Gazette. [Excerpt used with permission from Susan Robertson, srobertson@vagazette.com, The Virginia Gazette] The Girl Power Club is focused on helping girls getting ready to transition into middle school look past the gossip, understand behaviors and better themselves. Guidance counselor Jennifer Smith started the club […]
News From The School Garden
The school garden is growing! A renovation is underway to add more raised beds and space. This addition will allow more classes to have hands on time in the school garden. More Garden News In March the five kindergarten classes came out to the garden and planted pea seeds. They will be harvesting […]
Chef Chris’ Acorn Squash Chips and Dip
Chris Long, Executive Chef for Second St. Restaurant shared these delicious recipes with all students during our November 2012 Healthy Lifestyles Week Chef Demonstrations, sponsored by the MES PTA Healthy Lifestyles Committee, Second St Restaurant and Kelrae Farm. They were a big hit with the kids! The recipe appears below so you can try it at […]
Matoaka’s Healthy Lifestyles in Gazette
Healthy eating takes root at Matoaka Matoaka’s Healthy Lifestyle and Local Produce Program was recently featured in the Virginia Gazette . “Healthy Eating Takes Root At Matoaka” by Susan Robertson published Nov 3, 2012. – Subtle suggestions and healthier options have changed the eating culture at Matoaka Elementary. Other WJC schools are following suit. […]
