| Mary
Munford Elementary
Richmond, Virginia
New Ideas for Healthy Change
 |
How
about building a house for a work out! |
Having
a field day, the students, parents and CIGNA staff all
pitched in to raise funds to help build a Habitat for
Humanity House. Then, adults went to work on the house!
Principal Greg Muzik reports, “We were the first
elementary school in Virginia to build a house!”
Sometimes approaching a challenge from a different view
can make all the difference! Kids were not eating many
fresh oranges when served; most were going into the
trash.
The
principal observed, “Oranges…don't get eaten
if they are not cut up. When we cut them up, I see kids
eating the slices. Now the food service staff cuts up
the oranges each day they’re served.” This
small change is decreasing plate waste and being implemented
district wide!
From
cutting up boards to slicing up oranges, Mary Munford
Elementary is willing to try new ideas to build healthy
options for kids!
Fit Trail and Food Service Provide Healthier Options
“Build
it and they will come” was a lesson from a popular
movie, but at Mary Munford Elementary that prediction
proved true for their fit trail. Their active PTA spearheaded
efforts to build a fit trail on part of the school’s
13 acres. Daily teachers and kids are frequently found
taking “brain breaks” using the ¼
mile graveled path. Principal, Greg Muzik, says they
have been able to see about a 20 minute increase each
day in physical activity by having 10 minutes of structured
recess time and then 10 minutes “break”
for a fit trail walk each morning for 2nd-5th graders.
School food service has stepped up to the plate as well,
by making healthy options more accessible to the kids
by:
-
Offering fresh fruit each day
-
Slicing these fruits making them easier to eat
-
Changing the Ala carte policies so potato chips are
a 1 oz. portion now instead of 2 oz.
-
Serving only occasionally some other foods such as
cookies, and sweet desserts
-
Using broth to season vegetables instead of margarine
- Offering
“Grab and Go” sack lunch that includes
fresh fruit and vegetables
At
their May meeting, the PTA will be pitching a healthy
workshop that features information on various health
topics, nutrition, sunscreen, helmets; a chef demonstration,
and more.
Working
with a community partner who is a local college professor,
and his college students, kids are tracking their miles
as they walk and learning about various places in the
“Running for Life” program. The college
students help map the distances traveled and provide
information about the pretend destinations. Last year
they visited the U.S. Presidents’ homes and this
year they are headed throughout the Universe! The program
ends with a field day for all!
Separately,
each one of these actions is just one strike against
obesity, but combined make a winning combination for
the Mary Munford KidLink team!
Community Linking Leads to School Fitness
An
active integrated fitness program the past two years
has Mary Munford Elementary marching toward healthy
living and nutrition choices!
The PTA fitness and health subcommittee has led the
way by
- raising
funds to construct a fitness trail with exercise stations
-
adding a new, fully accessible playground
- providing
equipment for a partnership program with the local
university health & PE department
-
supporting a partnership with Richmond ballet for
4th grade weekly dance and movement instruction
-
making “community events” fundraising
a commitment beyond candy sales
Turning
the corner takes “band”ing together more
key players – parents, school foodservice - and
carrying the healthy living and nutrition education
tune into the instructional program at all grade levels!
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