Rolesville Elementary School students will learn the benefits of keeping the brain healthy and safe as they kick-off RAH* for Rolesville (*Really Awesome Health) on September 25, 2001 in a program entitled "Brainy Acts."

Raleigh Community Hospital, the Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education and Rolesville Elementary School have teamed-up for year two of the "RAH for Rolesville" project. The year-long program is designed to provide excellent, interactive health education to the students, staff and parents of Rolesville Elementary School. The project places professionally trained health educators in the classroom for hands-on lessons. Some topics include dental health, nutrition, fitness, tobacco prevention and self-esteem. Primary funding for this project is provided by Raleigh Community Hospital.

The objective of the kick-off program on Tuesday is to highlight activities children ages kindergarten through fifth grade can do every day to maintain a healthy brain. Students will act out the four behaviors; rest, exercise, nutrition and protection; that are important for optimal brain performance. Using music and props, students will be the stars of these "brainy acts"! "This is a unique project that has a real impact on students," said Julie McQueen, director of Education for the Poe Center. "We are giving them information and teaching them skills that will enable them to make better decisions about their health. This will benefit them throughout their lives," she added.

Each session will entertain and educate two classes at a time. The kick-off begins at 9:25 a.m. at Rolesville Elementary School Media Center. The programs will run until 3:10 p.m. with a 25 minute break at 12:15 p.m. The media is invited to stop by to learn about the RAH program at Rolesville Elementary School.

Raleigh Community Hospital is a 205-bed acute-care facility located one block north of the beltline on Wake Forest Road in North Raleigh. Raleigh Community Hospital is part of the Duke University Health System. A full-service acute care hospital, RCH's range of services includes a 24-hour Emergency Department, Intensive and Critical Care, Child Birth Center, Rehabilitation, Newborn Hearing Screening, Diabetes Treatment Center, Senior Health Center and community education.