Students at McCleary Elementary were recently challenged by Nurse Crawford to do something unheard of in this day and time – go an entire week screen free! That meant no computers, no cell phones and no video games. If they accepted the challenge, they would be rewarded.
About 65 students accepted and kept a log of what they did in place of sitting and staring at a screen. Board games with family, playing outside, reading for fun and AR, throwing a ball and visiting friends were popular substitutes. After a week, the participating students turned in their activity log, and a school assembly commenced shortly after that. All names were thrown into a bowl and winners were called to pick out a prize.
The students were quick to grab the portable basketball goal, scooters and bikes. Other donated gifts consisted of fishing poles, a tent, a swimming pool, kites, giant bouncy balls, gift certificates to local restaurants, the science museum and Red Sox game tickets.
None of this would have been possible without the hard work from Nurse Michaela Crawford and the wonderful businesses that made donations. A huge thank you goes to: Market Street Pharmacy, Hutch on Main, Pine Top Restaurant, Angie Ponton Erie Insurance, Farmers and Merchants Bank, Salem Red Sox, Science Museum of Western VA, Food County, Bibo’s Pizzeria and Subway.
The students learned that they can live a week without electronics and that playing outside is fun and rewarding. The support from the community was so great that Nurse Crawford hopes to do this again next year.
-Submitted by Andrea Jennings
