New York First Lady Visits Finley
The afternoon certainly wasn’t boring for two classes of students at J. Taylor Finley Middle School on Tuesday as New York State First Lady Michelle Paterson visited to kick-off her health and wellness awareness campaign.
“It was delightful to welcome Mrs. Paterson to our school,” Principal John Amato said. Students were attentive as the First Lady immediately made the teenagers feel as ease. “Students who eat well, will learn and live well, too,” she said.
Mrs. Paterson discussed some of her own middle school experiences before describing what is officially called “Healthy Steps to Albany: First Lady’s Challenge.”
The initiative features a contest that challenges middle school students to increase their physical activity and improve their eating habits by consuming more nutritious and healthy foods. The six-week contest begins on March 1.
Participants are asked to keep a daily log of their exercise experiences and the foods they eat. Each minute of activity is then converted into “steps” that are added to a classroom team’s virtual trip to Albany. Classes can track their trip progress through either an electronic application or a Healthy Steps map poster.
Mrs. Paterson spent about 15 minutes with each class before holding a brief press conference in the Finley lobby and posing for photos with several students from a nearby classroom.
“This challenge will encourage kids to re-evaluate their food choices and exercise programs in order to come up with their own ways to make healthier life choices,” Mrs. Paterson said.
Winning teams will be invited to a “healthy” luncheon with the First Lady and her husband, Governor David Paterson and will be given an opportunity to visit a farm to learn more about whole foods and state agriculture.
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