Learning takes a different form at Shaw Elementary

Students at a local elementary school are finding out that learning doesn’t have to be just about the three Rs. Through mostly outdoor activities, Creating Lifelong Learners introduces John Shaw Elementary School students to skills and adventures they will be able to enjoy throughout life. The brainchild of Nylene Warner, Shaw’s physical education teacher, the program brings kids together for hands-on learning about topics like fishing, agricultural, American sign language, archery, cooking, and art, among others. The goal always is to excite students about things that contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

Warner has built the program by encouraging staff to share their passions with students. Shaw Principal David Russell said the value of that can be seen in the excitement it often generates.

“A passionate staff member sponsoring an activity can inspire a student,” he said. “Mrs. Warner takes this idea to a whole new level.” Snowy weather does change the activity level. Students learn to cross-country ski, snowshoe, and play various winter games that support lifelong healthy living.

“Students need access to new experiences that may be outside the norm of what has always been,” Russell said. “Mrs. Warner dabbles with traditional physical activities, but excels at teaching skills that can be done throughout ones life.”

To that end, a recent grant from the Mat-Su Health Foundation gave the program a nice boost. The $15,000 awarded to Shaw Elementary will help get qualified adults to organize and lead activities, as well as provide funds for gear and supplies, something Russell said would not be possible without the kind of community support provided by the health foundation.

The Mat-Su Health Foundation has been a partner in community health and wellness since 2008, when its grant program started. As a minority owner of the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, the nonprofit organization has invested more than $106 million throughout the Mat-Su in the last 16 years, while continuing to do its part to ensure that the medical center meets the needs of the Valley’s growing population.

Most of the $106 million has been distributed in the form of grants to churches, faith-based nonprofits, and general nonprofit service providers. Another $13.5 million has been awarded in the form of scholarships to Mat-Su residents pursuing higher education in the fields of health and human services.

Principal Russell said he was thrilled to learn that Creating Lifelong Learners was considered worthy of a grant. The smiles on the faces of young students as they learn new skills is a testament to the program’s value, he said.

“Students have expressed their thanks to Mrs. Warner for encouraging them to do something they originally didn’t think they could do,” he said. “We are grateful for the support of the Mat-Su Health Foundation.”