July 14, 2025 — Summer is the perfect time for students to explore new pathways, build important life skills, and connect with their community in fun and meaningful ways.
This spirit of hands-on learning and growth came alive at Southwood Elementary School, where students learned about medication safety as part of the Health & Fitness Pathway at Summer Experience.
“I learned about medicine and what to do if you have medicine,” said Theodore White, an incoming third grader at Stewart Alternative Elementary School. “I think it was fun! [Summer Experience] is really fun.”
The Summer Experience Health & Fitness Pathway helps students strengthen their problem-solving and communication skills while building the Portrait of a Graduate attributes. The program emphasizes teamwork, character, and collaboration, encouraging students to use kinetic energy, critical thinking, and strong communication to reach their goals. Students learn how to maintain a healthy mind and body through engaging lessons on nutrition, sportsmanship, and personal responsibility.
Led by Dr. Josie Silvaroli, Ph.D., Academic Fellow at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, and her colleague Dr. Dan Michel, Ph.D., the team from Generation Rx team shared an essential message with our young learners: practicing safe medication habits keeps us healthy and helps build safer, stronger communities.
“We are teaching children about medication safety to help kids stay safe at home and in their communities,” said Dr. Silvaroli. “We want to empower kids with the knowledge they need to make safe choices when it comes to their health. We believe that safe medication use is a critical component of building healthy communities.”
Through lively discussions and interactive activities, students learned the significance of identifying trusted adults and why they should never take medicine without adult supervision.
“It’s important for children to understand who their trusted adults are that can keep them safe and help them make good decisions,” Dr. Silvaroli explained. “By starting these conversations early, we’re helping prevent medication misuse and teaching kids how to safely take, store, and handle medicine.”
Dr. Silvaroli shared the following medication safety rules with the CCS community:
- Ask trusted adults for help with medicine
- Only take medicine meant for you
- Keep medicines in safe places (up high or locked spaces)
- Share and practice what you learned with family and friends
Ruhani Randall was eager to share what her class learned from Generation Rx at Summer Experience.
“I learned to dose your medicine and take your medicine with a trusted adult,” Randall said. “Thank you for working with us!”
Dr. Silvaroli shared how much she enjoyed working with CCS students, describing them as bright, curious, and energetic.
“Their energy made the experience so rewarding,” she said.
Generation Rx, a national educational initiative developed by The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, is dedicated to promoting safe medication practices for people of all ages. By bringing age-appropriate, engaging lessons to schools, the program helps children and their communities understand the importance of using medications safely and avoiding misuse.
“The Summer Experience at CCS is an excellent way for students to learn new topics in a fun and engaging way,” Dr. Silvaroli said. “It’s also a fantastic opportunity for community partners like us to connect with students in meaningful ways. I had a great time being a part of this year’s program. The students were fantastic, and the whole experience was incredibly positive.”
As we continue to shape safe, healthy, and informed future leaders, CCS is proud to partner with organizations like Generation Rx to bring vital learning opportunities directly to our students. A big thank you to Dr. Silvaroli, Dr. Michel, and the entire Generation Rx team for making this summer’s Health & Fitness path even more impactful.
Together, we’re building a stronger, safer Columbus one student at a time.
