Waukee High School’s APEX class has teamed up with Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union (IGHSAU) to create a nutritional newsletter that will be used to benefit the health of coaches and athletes in the winter season. The electronic newsletter will be published four times per year and can be found on the Athletic Union’s website, here.
Three students in the APEX Exploration of Exercise and Sports Science class began working on the project in early October: senior Anslee Kapsch, senior Grace Baccam and junior Allie Steer. The newsletter is geared towards female high school athletes aiming to gain knowledge on a variety of subjects regarding nutrition and health. It includes sections like Fueling your Workout, a Featured Athlete, How to get Vitamin D in the Winter, Staying Hydrated, Recipes and more.
“Even though the newsletter is meant for female high school athletes, parents and coaches are encouraged to read it to improve their athlete’s health, and their own in the winter,” said Kapsch.
The APEX students first developed content, which included drafting articles and finding credible sources. For fact finalization, they spoke with a sports dietician, Ellen Davis, to make sure their information was correct. The group finished the project with the design of the newsletter.
“The main messages that we are trying to get across is that food is fuel. We hope to make a positive impact on the nutrition of all who continue to read future newsletters!” Kapsch said.
The Exploration of Exercise and Sports Science class is available in the fall and spring semester during both morning and afternoon blocks. The class focuses on ways to improve the quality of life through physical activity, exercise and sport. Students have the opportunity to work with business partners to complete projects and explore potential career fields, located at the Family YMCA in Waukee.
“This APEX class has taught me several professional skills that I will be able to take with me into the future. I have learned skills in communication, time management and customer satisfaction through impactful, real-world experiences,” Kapsch said.
The introduction of the newsletter, which was created by three APEX students.
An example of one of the sections in the article over how to stay hydrated in the winter.