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KSS receives 2nd health grant [UPDATED]
Published 10:28am Thursday, November 8, 2012 Updated 12:32pm Thursday, November 8, 2012Kennedy Secondary School is taking the lead in student health by participating in a nationwide wellness initiative.
Community-focused and fun, Fuel Up to Play 60 is activating schools and communities to support school wellness initiatives, good nutrition and physical activity.
In partnership with the National Dairy Council (NDC), the National Football League (NFL), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Kennedy Secondary School and its students are recruiting friends, parents, teachers and business and community leaders to join them in pledging to adopt healthier behaviors, such as choosing foods encouraged by the USDA, and committing to 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
Kennedy Secondary School was just awarded a $4,000 Fuel Up to Play 60 grant that will be used to create signage for the new Grab-N-Go Breakfast as well as to offer some taste-testing opportunities for students.
In addition, this grant will support the organization of a Zumba class to be held during recess and/or after school hours.
Earlier in the school year several classes became involved in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program by logging onto the website, making a healthy pledge, and tracking food and physical activity. Linda Bowhall’s seventh grade FACS classes also participated in a Fuel Up to Play 60 school assessment as well as an activity called “Menu Makeover” in which they were given the opportunity to rename the lunch menu items with creative and descriptive names.
These suggestions were then provided to food service director, Becky Shearer, who incorporated some of these names into her monthly menu. Several weeks ago, Kathryn Enderson’s Innovative Foods class spent a few days participating in the Fuel Up to Play 60 Super Bowl Breakfast Challenge.
Enderson’s students brainstormed and created breakfast options using oatmeal. Each student then logged onto the Fuel Up to Play 60 Website and had the opportunity to submit their idea to the program.
Two national winners will be selected, and will win a trip to the Super Bowl plus a $1,000 grant for their school.
Kennedy Secondary School also received a $2,000 Fuel Up to Play 60 breakfast grant this past summer that was used to purchase appliances for the Grab-N-Go Breakfast.
Linda Bowhall, Fuel Up to Play 60 program advisor, states, “The Fuel Up to Play 60 program provides the healthy messages, resources and activities we need to help students build positive, lifelong habits.” Kristin Erickson, RN, PHN and co-program advisor, states, “We know that healthy kids make better learners, and the Fuel Up to Play 60 program offers a fun and practical way to support a healthy school environment.”
Otter News TV Show
On Friday, Nov. 2, Jesse Thorstad, technology specialist, and I taped our first Otter News TV show. Park Region/Otter Tail Telcom is our partner in this weekly venture and the shows can be seen on their channels.
The purpose of the show is to inform citizens of what’s happening in our School District.
The first show gave an explanation of the emergency early out on Oct. 31, along with a final update on the Outdoor Facility Bond Referendum.
Each week, we will be inviting guests to discuss school events and programs and encourage the public to call our office with ideas and suggestions.
