EASD receives nutrition grant
Ephrata Area School District (EASD) has been awarded a Highmark Healthy High 5 School challenge grant worth more than $9,000 from the Highmark Foundation. The grant will provide funding for two programs to expand nutrition education for district elementary students.
One program will enhance nutrition education for second grade students at Akron and Clay elementary schools. Instructors from the Weller Health Education Center will teach students about digestion, nutrition, ingredients and the benefits of exercise. The lessons are tied to the Pennsylvania Academic Standards.
The second program will introduce students in grades one to four at Akron and Clay elementary schools to lesser-known fruits and vegetables. Samples will be available to encourage students to try something new and learn about unique varieties.
"One of the initiatives of Healthy People 2020 is to decrease the rate of childhood obesity, which is currently greater than 17 percent. The educational lessons provided through this grant will help students develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime," said Lori Bickel, school nurse at Akron and Clay elementary schools.
"With funding from this grant, we have the opportunity to introduce students to a variety of fruits and vegetables, some they may never have tasted, such as the avocados, mangoes and jicama. They may find some new favorites," said Teri Gamez, district director of food services. More GRANT, page A5