Childhood obesity fight rages on, join the fight - Honorees are White House bound

Childhood obesity fight rages on, join the fight.

Honorees are White House bound By Debbie Glover St. Tammany NewsPicture yourself on the south lawn of the White House, a guest of First Lady Michelle Obama herself, as she congratulates you on your accomplishments in nutrition and helping fight childhood obesity. St. Tammany school principals and cafeteria managers that won the Gold Award of Distinction from the Healthier US Schools Challenge, 25 in all, have been invited to do exactly that. St. Tammany schools won the Gold Award of Distinction last September, and although 128 of the awards have now been given throughout the nation, St. Tammany’s school district has the most awards of any district in the country. The principals and cafeteria managers of the schools will leave on July 28 and the White House visit will be the afternoon of July 29. Then they will fly home. Each school will be paying for the trip for their principal and cafeteria manager. Superintendent Trey Folse will accompany the group. The school district will pay for him to go. Although it will be a whirlwind trip, its purpose and honor will last in their memories for a lifetime. The 25 schools are Abita Springs Elementary School, Abney Elementary School, Alton Elementary School, Bayou Woods Elementary School, Bonne Ecole Elementary School, Brock Elementary School, Chahta-Ima Elementary School, Covington Elementary School, Cypress Cove Elementary School, Fifth Ward Jr. High School, Florida Avenue Elementary School. Folsom Elementary School, Honey Island Elementary School, Lee Road Jr. High School, Little Pearl Elementary School, Lyon Elementary School, Madisonville Elementary School, Magnolia Trace Elementary School, Mandeville Elementary School, Marigny Elementary School, Pontchartrain Elementary School, Riverside Elementary School, Sixth Ward Elementary School, Whispering Forest Elementary and Woodlake Elementary School. Upon receiving the awards last September, Obama said the district was “being accountable and getting results. All of you...in this district are setting the standard for schools and school districts across the country in fighting childhood obesity.” The First Lady continued her accolades. “Right here at Brock Elementary, this isn’t just a school that demonstrates a commitment to academic success. This isn’t just a school that’s a model of determination and resilience, having rebuilt this beautiful school from the ground up after Hurricane Katrina. It is a wonderful facility, and congratulations on that success. But we’re here today because this school is a model of excellence in teaching our children healthy habits right from the beginning.” She explained in her visit that the HealthierUS Schools Challenge is the way the Department of Agriculture is recognizing schools that are doing the very best to keep kids healthy, including providing healthy school meals and ensuring the children get regular gym classes. She said that by receiving the Gold Award of Distinction, she recounted the ways the goals are being met in the parish. “I hear that the students here participate in food-tasting parties and they work with the cafeteria manager to teach other children, their peers, about healthy eating. I’m also told that you’ve even started a jump rope club.” She acknowledged the district had 25 schools reaching this goal and said it is an “extraordinary accomplishment” that is accomplished because there are principals and food service managers that have made a commitment. She cited studies that show nutrition and exercise affect academic performance. She also said that kids need time and space to run and “get all that energy out” before they can sit down and concentrate. Her plan in September was to double the number of school receiving the award by June 2011, which has happened. “I want the country to look and see that this parish has done great things even with great challenges. You’ve been able to manage to do this as you built a new school and recovered from one of the greatest devastations that this country has ever seen. So if they can do it here, than all the schools out there can do it,” said Obama. The principals and food service managers will be the guests of the First Lady and once again will be recognized for all they do for the children of St. Tammany Parish Schools.