IN Norwin Fall 2017 | Page 8

WHAT’S NEWS IN NORWIN In addition, the YMCA will offer a nutrition education seminar each month. For more information, email the Healthy Living Director at the Rose Family YMCA in Cranberry Township at [email protected]. STAGE RIGHT SUMMER CAMP SHOWS TAKE ON BULLYING ROSE YMCA BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING PROGRAM The Million Hearts campaign was launched in 2012 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with the goal of preventing one million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. As part of this effort to prevent cardiovascular disease, the Y-USA designed a program to reduce participants’ blood pressure based on the successful “Check It, Change It,” research study. The YMCA’s Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring program supports adults with high blood pressure in developing the habit of self-monitoring blood pressure and understanding the role nutrition plays in pressure management through personalized support. The BPSM evidence-based program is a four-month program designed to help adults with high blood pressure develop the habit of routine blood pressure monitoring. The goals of the program are: 1) Reduce blood pressure 2) Develop new skills for managing blood pressure 3) Gain the ability to identify and control triggers that raise blood pressure 4) Increase confidence in adopting healthier eating habits Heart Healthy ambassadors from the YMCA will take participants’ blood pressure during face-to-face meetings and will train participants to take their own blood pressure accurately using the American Heart Association ABCD protocol. 6 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Norwin Students in Stage Right’s first camps of the summer took on the serious issue of bullying, and promoted the celebration of our differences. The Greensburg performing arts school ran two consecutive camps, one for teens, ages 14 through 18 and one for preteens, ages 7 through 13. The teens performed “Heathers The Musical (High School Edition)” and the preteens presented “Shrek The Musical Jr.” on June 30 and July 1. “This year 83 kids gathered at the studios to sing dance and have a ball! The theme for the first camp was ‘Our differences make us special.’ This idea is at the heart of both shows. For the preteens with Shrek Jr., the story is about people who feel like misfits, but in the end, they come to realize that those differences are good and empowering things. For the teens, this new version of Heathers has been created to address the issues with bullies that kids face in high school. It created this discussion every day with the kids about what they face and how they deal with it. It’s been a really moving and cathartic experience for everyone,” says Artistic Director Tony Marino. Stage Right was only the fifth theater company in the world to perform “Heathers The Musical (High School Edition).” The show, which is a new adaptation of the Broadway musical based on the 1990’s cult classic movie of the same name, follows the story of Veronica Sawyer, a brainy, beautiful teenage misfit who hustles her way into the most powerful and ruthless clique at Westerberg High: the Heathers. But before she can get comfortable atop the high school food chain, she falls for the wrong boy and finds herself ostracized by the popular group. Adapted to be appropriate for a teenage cast and audience, the show deals with the important issues of teen suicide, bullying, homophobia and gun violence. Banner Reed, 15, from Greensburg, who played Principal Gowan, says he felt a very deep connection to this show. Stage Right’s School of the Performing Arts presented “Shrek The Musical Jr.” at the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center. Pictured from left to right: Emma Kate Angelo, 12, of Perryopolis; Aleena Martin, 11, of Blairsville; Ben Federico, 13, of Latrobe. “I feel like the show was a perfect representation of what happens when people are on the edge, because I’ve been there. It’s an important tale about how people are being treated,” Banner says. He also feels that playing the principal was very important to the message of the show that he hopes resonated with people. “My character was a representative of my school staff, and how they ignore [bullying] and happily turn a blind eye to it. It’s necessary that they don’t do that anymore, because clearly we need to do something to change it now,” he says. Maura Rygg, 15, of Harrison City, played Heather Chandler. She said playing this role was very fun, and interesting, to her. “There’s many different angles to [the show]: bullying, twisted love story, conquering your enemies— all that stuff,” Maura says. The young actress said it was fun to play Heather Chandler but also really hard.