Yoga, Babysitter’s Training and Teen Fitness are just a few of the classes Parma Community General Hospital is offering free to students of the Parma City School District this spring and summer.

Parma Hospital’s Health Education Center has received a $22,000 Family and Civic Engagement Initiative grant from Cuyahoga County to administer classes to 550 public school students. Classes will be offered April through September as long as funds allow. 

This initiative was created “to help develop healthy communities that lead to the academic success safety and wellbeing of youth to enable them to transition into productive, responsible citizens,” according to the grant. Community Health Representative Sharon Nichols, who coordinates classes offered through the Hospital’s Health Education Center, says the purpose of the grant meshes well with Parma Hospital’s own mission and benefits students with an average of $40 in savings per class. 

“We offer a diverse selection of classes throughout the year for youths of all ages,” Nichols said. “This grant is for kids from Kindergarten through 12th grade, so even 16, 17 or 18-year-olds can take adult exercise classes, Spanish for Beginners or Personal Wellness seminars. Younger children in Kindergarten through second grade can take art, dance or science classes. Students in grades 1 through 6 can brush up on Math Facts or stay active over summer with Cheer Camp.”

A full schedule of spring classes can be viewed online at www.parmahospital.org/programsandclasses. To register or have a schedule mailed to your home, please call the Health Education Center at 440-743-4900. The summer schedule will be available on May 25.