Students at Southeast Elementary School will soon have greater opportunities to get fit and learn about healthy choices.
The school was awarded a fitness program Nov. 8 through Project Fit America and sponsored by Lenoir Memorial Hospital and Lenoir Memorial Foundation for new fitness equipment and a health curriculum.
LMH provided $17,800 to Project Fit America, which will provide the school staff mentors for two years, indoor and outdoor physical fitness equipment and a curriculum package at a value of $13,350, or 75 percent of the donated funds.
“I am elated that our school has been selected to be a Project Fit America school,” said Southeast’s principal, Nakia Williams. “This initiative works with school communities to bring in funding, equipment, teacher training, curriculum and the resources Southeast needs to actually get kids physically fit. It fosters a love of movement, not just in the students’ health, but in their attitude toward fitness and healthy life styles.”
Project Fit looks for schools that include community involvement beyond the school walls. Programs include guest speakers and events that involve parents and other community members. The playground will also be open to the community to use, Williams said.
In October, representatives from the school and hospital visited a pilot project at Alamance Elementary School in Greensboro to observe the program firsthand, said Stacey Cook, executive director of Project Fit.
Cook said the program involves a physical education program, along with healthy living aspects, such as nutrition, smoking intervention, the human body and exercise.
“What we’re doing here is a project that is customized to each school,” Cook said. “… The idea is to really jump up the activity of movement.”
The curriculum, which also includes an award system, can be used in any classroom or during physical education. Williams said the school is giving up its music program in favor of hiring a physical education teacher. The school is interviewing for the new position.
“The program provides a wonderful opportunity for both our K-5 regular classroom staff and our physical education staff to collaborate on ways to promote healthy lifestyles,” Williams said. “The initiative provides resources that highlight the state standards in all areas of the curriculum while spotlighting healthy living.”
The school’s current playground is designed for K-1 and includes a makeshift walking trail, Williams said. Yet, the school houses children up to fifth grade. The new playground will include more equipment inside the gym and outside for all the children.
In addition to the equipment provided through the Project Fit grant, the school will utilize a $20,000 Ronald McDonald Foundation grant it received in December to purchase playground equipment.
The school plans to have a grand opening and ribbon cutting in August when the 2013 school year begins.
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com.
Breakout box:
Among North Carolina’s children aged 2 years to less than 5 years
• 16.2 percent were overweight
• 15.5 percent were obese
Among North Carolina’s adolescents in grades 9 through 12
• 14.6 percent were overweight
• 13.4 percent were obese
• Achieved recommended level of activity: Only 24.1 percent were physically active for a total of at least 60 minutes per day on each of the seven days prior to the survey
• No activity: 15.4 percent did not participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity on any day during the seven days prior to the survey
• Television viewing time: 36.2 percent watched television three or more hours per day on an average school day
For more information on donating or becoming a Project Fit America school, call 800-711-4348 or visit projectfitamerica.org
Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity