Ocean City Primary School teacher and certified personal trainer, Carrie Merritt, has been selected as a grand prize winner for the 2016 AtlantiCare Healthy Educator Award. The award comes from “AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children,” which has been giving out this award for the past several years. The program recognizes local educators that fits its idea of a good role-model, demonstrating healthy behaviors and actions within their schools. The honorees are nominated by fellow colleagues, who in this case was Carol Gorny, a second grade teacher at the Primary School and wonderful liaison to AtlanticCare. This year, 11 teachers were selected from the 48 nominations.
“In my opinion, fitness, even as adults, should be fun! Part of my philosophy as an educator is to teach children at a young age that exercise provides so many positive outcomes to our lives: makes us feel better, keeps us healthy, gives us brain boosts, helps us be better athletes and gives us energy.”- Carrie Merritt
Carrie is not your ordinary teacher, as she is constantly coming up with new ideas to keep the students active and involved in healthier lifestyles. A few of the events Carrie held this year include the Reindeer Romp 10 Minute Run, a unit study on the human body, and Super Hero Circuit Day, where the children and staff dressed as their favorite superheroes. Then there was Family, Fun, Fitness and Fuel Night for the 1st Grade. This was a huge success, allowing parents and children too learn about healthy lifestyle choices while participating in numerous activities led by Carrie. Coming soon is a presentation for the 2nd graders called “Hydration Station” and a celebration in May for National Bike Month. In June there are plans to celebrate Nation Running Month as well as a district-wide event that is currently in the works, called “Tri for the Next Grade.” The concept is a fun and silly triathlon.
“The goal with young children and exercise is to encourage and motivate them to move without them even realizing they are working hard and exercising.”- Carrie Merritt
An Awards Ceremony Dinner will be held for Carrie and the other winners on Wednesday, April 13th from 5:30PM-7:30PM at the Atlantic City Country Club in Northfield. There, Carrie and the Ocean City Primary School will each be presented with a check for $300 to put towards healthy initiatives. Family, friends, and other members of the district are invited to attend and help celebrate. Tickets are $20 and can be reserved by emailing healthyschools@atlanticare.org.
“Carrie is an energetic and dynamic teacher. You cannot walk by Carrie or her classroom without feeling the positive energy and great vibes! Carrie Merritt truly is a rock star at the Primary School, as a teacher, and especially as a healthy educator!”- Cathleen Smith, Principal of Ocean City Primary School
