anyalindhom, kellyndaly, & annporter

Marian girls army crawl across the floor, dust in their eyes and determination in their hearts. A drill sergeant barks orders from the corner of the room, urging them forward. A sense of camaraderie fills the room as each and every girl struggles to complete the final drill.

This is what most Marian students pictured when they heard of the upcoming boot camp. But when the October Wellness Wednesday rolled around, Marian girls were happy to discover that “boot camp” was actually a fun event.

It is a well-known fact that Marian isn’t the most health conscious school in the world. Between bake sales, Marian Moms, and the half-baked cookies at lunch, Marian girls could all do with a celery stick or two.

To combat this issue, the Varsity M Club, an organization of Marian athletes who have earned a Varisty letter, has been tasked with increasing health consciousness at Marian.

“Ms. [Mary] Higgins and Mrs. [Susie] Sullivan are very health conscientious women…They would really like to see our school become a little bit more health- conscious,” Ms. Ronda Motykowski ’80, the M Club moderator, said.

“[Higgins and Sullivan] wanted to figure out a way to get the whole school active,” Motykowski said.

Almost every week at Marian, a club or team hosts a bake sale. Although, it is a great way to raise money, the bake sales are stocked with sugary snacks, drinks and desserts.

The Marian administration along with the Varsity M Club is trying to promote healthy living and eating.

On Oct. 21, the Varsity M Club sponsored a bake sale, but instead of countless dozens of donuts, various types of cookies, and an assortment of sugary beverages, there was trail mix, fruits and vegetables.

“There are good choices for food out there that are really good and good for you and don’t just send your blood sugar over the top,” Higgins ’69 said.

The healthy bake sale isn’t the only thing Marian is doing to create a healthier environment.  Once a quarter, the M Club is sponsoring Wellness Wednesdays, an activity during extended homeroom, for the whole school. In September, students and teachers walked two loops around the track during extended homeroom. Although it doesn’t seem like much, the goal is to get the students moving during a day of sitting and promote exercise.

On Oct. 28, the second Wellness Wednesday took place. The school completed an 18-minute bootcamp led by two enthusiastic senior instructors, Andie Hanus and Kate Ruffalo, via video played in each homeroom.

“I feel like we have a moral obligation to help girls understand the importance of health, wellness, nutrition, the importance of maintaining your energy and overall health,” Higgins said.

The M Club is continuing to plan future Wellness Wednesdays. The next Wellness Wednesday in January will feature a jazzercise session.

To share your ideas about the next health-conscious event, contact an M Club member or Motykowski today.