Agricultural News
Five Oklahoma Schools Receive Funds for Wellness Program
Fri, 05 Aug 2011 09:40:05 CDT
Five Oklahoma schools have been chosen to receive funds to support its Fuel Up to Play 60 initiative, Dairy MAX announced today. Cashion Elementary, Putnam City's Hefner Middle School, Lomega Elementary and Lomega High School, and Okeene Elementary were selected from among hundreds of schools across the country that applied for funding to help them jumpstart and sustain healthy nutrition and physical activity improvements. This nationwide funding program offers schools up to $4,000 to help them increase awareness of and access to nutrient-rich foods and physical activity opportunities for students. Funding for this competitive program is provided by Dairy MAX and America's dairy farmers.
Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60 provides support for a variety of activities and tools, such as foodservice materials and equipment, nutrition and physical education materials, student and staff incentives, staff development and overall Fuel Up to Play 60 implementation. Cashion Elementary will participate in taste tests helping to encourage kids to choose low fat and fat free dairy products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and will be participating in a walking challenge to get kids active.
"Promoting nutrient-rich dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains is a priority for us. Students who taste test these foods - some for the first time - are likely to choose them more often," said Valeri Evans, Kingfisher County Family & Consumer Science Extension Educator and co-program advisor for Cashion and Lomega schools, and several others schools in the county. Evans was recently named "Program Advisor of the Year" for Oklahoma.
Nursing students from the OU College of Nursing will help the school nurse target 6th graders. In an eight week series of lessons,they will focus on healthy, and will featuring interactive games, lessons, and camaraderie.
Lomega Elementary will bring breakfast to the students through Breakfast in the Classroom, helping kids fuel up for learning, and to also participate in a walking challenge. Lomega High School will implement a grab 'n go breakfast to promote healthy eating and academic performance at mid-morning, and class fitness competitions.
Okeene Elementary will utilize Fuel Up to Play 60 Student Ambassadors to promote healthy eating and increased physical activity, and will focus on entering Fuel Up to Play 60 challenges to motivate and educate students, as well as parents and the community.
More than 70,000 schools across the United States are participating in Fuel Up to Play 60. Launched by National Dairy Council, local Dairy Councils and National Football League (NFL), in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Multiple health organizations and several major corporations are also supporting Fuel Up to Play 60, now in its third year.
"Fuel Up to Play 60 has really taken off in Oklahoma. Wellness champions and students in more than 1,000 schools have embraced the program, and these funds will help many of the participating schools to do even more," said Susan Allen, program coordinator for Dairy MAX.
Schools, parents and students can learn more about Fuel Up to Play 60, and schools can learn more about eligibility requirements, and find the Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60 application, by visiting their website, which can be found by clicking here.
There are several application windows each year, including upcoming deadlines on October 1, 2011, December 1, 2011, February 1, 2012, and June 1, 2012.
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