REFRESH &

SUCCESS STORY: CREATING HEALTHY SCHOOLS

A 5th grade teacher, Kaleigh, from Monticello School District’s Kenneth L Rutherford Elementary School reached out to SNAP-Ed to REFRESH their school with nutrition classes. SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator Bee Moser convinced her to host a three-part series. Together, they coordinated 21 classrooms of all the 3rd and 4th graders in the building. Through the CATCH curriculum, Bee taught about the importance of GO activities, GO foods, and GO drinks. Teaching 21 classrooms in a three-part series in one school building meant Bee was going to the building quite often!

Bee said, “Not only did I receive many hugs, but they also told me many stories about changes in their behavior like eating more fruits and veggies or moving more. Many told me that they’re no longer drinking sugary beverages because they realize how much sugar is in them.”

Feedback from the school and teachers has been overwhelmingly positive. They’re even considering turning the whole school into a CATCH school where everyone speaks the same language of health.

Teachers shared that when students get their breakfasts and lunches, they RETHINK their choices: they look at these meals from a GO and WHOA perspective now.

One 4th grade boy told Bee: “I’m eating many more GO foods like fruits and vegetables. For snack, I always have fruit instead of a WHOA food!”

“Thanks for including me for the annual meeting! I enjoyed it very much. What a nice group of staff you have. It was nice to be a part of it.” –Pat

John Wilcox

I envision that CCE will have more in person meetings and use of the building. With all of the work that has been in and around the building in the past few years, it will be nice to see it in use again.