Gold Coast
Regional Award Winner
Regional Award Winner
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Meiners Oaks Elementary submitted the following three essays for consideration of the Governor's Challenge Competition Grand Prize: Essay 1 - Commitment to Promoting Healthy Eating on Campus At Meiners Oaks we take the job of educating our students on the benefits of eating healthy very seriously. First and foremost, we ensure that students are well nourished throughout the day by providing a healthy snack and lunch through our school’s cafeteria. Our district nutritionist plans all menus based on the food pyramid guidelines and includes a newsletter with each take-home menu, containing educational information and tips for students and parents to help promote a well rounded diet at home. In conjunction with our health conscious cafeteria, our Food for Thought program, made available to Meiners Oaks through a grant and generous parent volunteer hours, further educates our students to the importance of healthy eating habits. Parents and other interested community members volunteer to introduce Farm-to-School salad bars that feature fresh, locally grown, seasonal produce as a regular feature of the school lunch program. Food for Thought salad bars are accompanied by in-class nutrition education, food demonstrations, local farm tours, and farmer classroom visits. Parent volunteers help students learn new food products and instruct them on choosing appropriate food items from the salad bar. Moreover, parent volunteers prepare and present gardening activities that are aligned with grade level curriculum and the California State Social Studies Standards. Students enjoy eating from our school garden. Our District Wellness Committee has helped establish guidelines for promoting healthy eating at school, giving guidelines for parents for packing lunches, and providing teachers with nutritional information and curriculum. Physical education and health collide as students participate in activities like relays, dribbling courses, and tossing games that provide fun, physical activity and an education on the food pyramid, food groups, serving quantities and size, reading and interpreting food labels, calories, metabolism, making healthy food choices, and how to be a watchful and wise consumer. Essay 2 - Support of Students’ Physical Activity and Fitness At Meiners Oaks the physical education program is comprehensive and developmentally appropriate. We place an emphasis on learning physical skills and teaching students to develop active lifestyles. All students receive 100 minutes per week of directed P.E. instruction. Students demonstrate fundamental skills that are aligned with the California State standards for their grade level and are encouraged to integrate these with their daily health habits. Modifications are implemented and equipment differentiated to ensure that all age and ability levels have a positive and successful experience. We encourage activity off campus by showing students how to make their own PE equipment with household items such as old socks and milk cartons; this year students made their own footbags with balloons and birdseed. New this year, we introduced pedometers to the students and created new awareness of movement. Now, with whatever activity is being played, students are consciously moving and able to see the direct result of their activity level. The pedometers have also provided students with a tool to set and achieve individual fitness goals. Promoting a healthy lifestyle is a top priority at Meiners Oaks. Beginning with the Fitness Pledge in the primary grades, students learn about the five components of Fitness and are logically integrated into class activities. All students at Meiners Oaks receive education and practice for the FitnessGram and are taught the benefits of maintaining a fitness routine and how to achieve their own personal goals at school and at home. Supplemental programs that promote physical activity and fitness include tennis lessons once a week at a nearby school for upper grades, encouragement in after school sports, and our after school Jump Rope Club, a volunteer program involving 40+ students. These programs add further opportunity for students to practice an individual fitness routine and learn new skills. Essay 3- Need For a New Fitness Center The community of Meiners Oaks deserves a new fitness center. The school is the only safe place for families to bring their children after school and on weekends. There are no near-by parks and parents see their school as a place where children can be active and safe. Two years ago, one of our large playground structures had to be demolished. It had deteriorated to the point of being unsafe. Children cried went it came down - it was used all day at school and then all afternoon and evening by children who use our playground as their community park. The school district does not have funds to replace it and we struggle every year with PTA fundraisers trying to provide equipment and extra-curricular activities for our children. We have not been able to raise the money for a new fitness center. This year we have begun a partnership with a local Rotary Club, an on-site preschool serving low-income students, and our local hospital to challenge the problems of obesity with our students. Our discussions have pointed out that besides maintaining and actively pursuing a sound nutritional curriculum, advocating and teaching a healthy lifestyle, our school community needs the right equipment and fitness center to help promote good health. A new fitness center would establish an on-going promise to students and their families that Meiners Oaks is committed to their communities health and well-being. Students, parents and teachers are proud of Meiners Oaks School and their dedication and commitment to the whole child – their academics, physical activity and their health. Due to this dedication and commitment, last year Meiners Oaks was honored as a 2006 California Distinguished School. |
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