Roxboro is stirring up success in creative ways this winter!

A Chef demonstration on vegetable preparation was attended by over 300 kids who then took the recipe home in their school newsletter.

The kids rallied around their teachers as they competed in a walking contest counting their steps with a pedometer. One grade level each week keeps track of the steps as they compete for the most steps tallied on the “track” (a poster placed on the wall in the hallway). The winning class gets a free PE period with the Principal!

The Principal’s morning announcement adds a measure of a healthy, fun food fact, joke, trivia question, or even quick survey for kids. Learning about food from the farm to the table will be the topic for an assembly presented by a local family that raises all their own foods and has an active daily routine.

Kellie Cogan, Swansboro Principal, says her team is invested in the program, and their next focus is to serve up their message to the Board of Education in March.
Kellie’s goals will keep things cooking by:

1. Challenging herself and staff to be better role models by being more physically active, starting a walking club at lunch for staff, and living what’s taught.
2. Making policy changes to sustain these healthy actions.

Sounds like a recipe for success!

Reaching Out

Roxboro Elementary is reaching out to parents and the community to make a difference in kids’ understanding of healthy choices! A new grant award jumpstarted an action plan for healthier snacks. To kick-off the grant, a nutritionist presented kids with healthy tips. As a part of the healthier snack plan, kids are receiving a fruit or veggie snack each day, teachers are encouraged to role-model and 326 kids are discovering fruit and veggie appeal.

KidLink team members are stepping up to the challenge! The PE teacher is offering a walking contest. Teachers wear pedometers and lead the class to find ways to increase the number of footsteps they take. Taking the long way to the media center or walking together at recess, are just a few ways classes are increasing the number of footsteps they take. The winning class gets a veggie pizza tasting party.

Additional healthy spotlights include:

• December morning announcements that feature information about a unique snack of the day and "Simon says" activities for all to play.
• Plans for a chef to conduct a “cooking show" and prepare a vegetarian dish kids can taste and have as the snack for the day.
• Plans are also In the works for a fun "fear factor" challenge, to see if teachers and kids will try weird (unusual new) foods such as blood oranges.

Roxboro makes exploring new foods a fun adventure!