"These students have an excellent opportunity to make changes not only in their own eating habits, but in the habits of their family members and their community."

Each year, the AIMS juniors take on a new and exciting project designed to help them investigate medical topics much in the same way that they would if they were already in a medical work place.  Last year, juniors conducted a Walkability study in conjunction with the Long Beach Health Department.  Students and staff from the health department did a study of the availability of healthy eating establishments in the Jordan community and also studied the accessibility of places for residents in their neighborhoods to exercise.  The program was a huge success and students were able to take away valuable lessons from their work with the health professionals with whom they interacted.

This year, students in the class of 2012 are once again working in conjunction with the Long Beach Health Department.  They are working on a new project--Project HOPE.  The acronym HOPE stands for Healthier Options through Peer Education.  The purpose is to educate the public, specifically youngsters, about healthier eating options.  Through peer education and by working with neighborhood markets through the Corner Store Project, AIMS juniors will be reaching out to their community to warn them about the dangers of unhealthy eating choices.  Each month they will use social media sites such as the school web site and Facebook to post information about healthier options and they will also prepare two presentations to be given on Jordan's and another campus.

Under the direction of Shawna Stevens from the Long Beach Department of Health and through Ms. Baskin's Introduction to Medical Occupations class, the AIMS juniors are learning a lot themselves about the dangers of poor eating habits.  "These students have an excellent opportunity to make changes not only in their own eating habits, but in the habits of their family members and their community," expressed Sabrina Arney, AIMS Lead Teacher.  "They have a variety of guest speakers coming in from the health department and other agencies helping them put their projects and presentations together.  These are some lucky kids," she continued.

If you are interested in receiving the posts about healthier eating options, go to Facebook and add LBNSP as a friend.  You might just learn some tips that will literally save your life!