By Kim Hilsenbeck.
Hays CISD has made a commitment to helping its students and their families live healthier lives. Whether it’s changes in the lunchroom or innovate programs that get kids moving, Hays CISD is working to give students and faculty plenty of options for exercising, eating good food and making better choices for life.
Below are some examples of what’s going on at your local Hays CICD school:
“Fuel Up to Play 60” grant
Fuentes Principal Regina Butcher with H-E-Buddy at a recent pep rally in support of her participation in the Slim Down Showdown; if she wins the grand prize of $10,000, it will pay for a new track around the school’s playground. Butcher says the current trail is used by everyone in the community. (photo by Kim Hilsenbeck) |
Hays CISD recently celebrated receipt of a new $71,900 grant from Dairy Max to implement “Fuel Up to Play 60.” This program, sponsored by the National Dairy Council and the National Football League, in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture, help make it possible for students to have more opportunities to be physically active and choose tasty, nutrient-rich foods in their school environment.
Each Hays CISD campus will receive $3,595 to put toward healthy eating and physical activity plays. Schools will also hold their own “FUTP60” kick-off and implement the plays later this spring.
New celebration menu rolls out at two Hays CISD schools
Combining the district’s healthy nutrition goals with convenience, the Hays CISD Child Nutrition group, managed by Southwest Foodservice Excellence, is piloting a new celebration menu at Kyle Elementary and Carpenter Hill Elementary. The menu includes yummy and healthy options such as fruit kabobs, yogurt and fruit parfaits, custom created snack mix and chocolate covered bananas, along with reduced fat and sugar cupcakes and cakes that can be decorated according to parent’s wishes.
Goodie bags are also available – they include a variety of age-appropriate items. Parents can order from the menu and the food or gift bags (or both) will be delivered to the child’s class.
Fourth-grade students at Kyle Elementary were excited about the snack mix handed out by birthday girl Daphne Montano who said she really liked the choices offered on the celebration menu. The prices are comparable with what you might find at a local grocery store, according to Sean James, Director Child Nutrition, while offering the added convenience of having his team shop for, prepare and deliver everything.
The pilot test will continue at the two schools for the rest of this year then roll out in the fall to more campuses. Visit www.hayscisd.net and click on Café Meals under the Parents & Student tab for more information. Allow about two weeks for orders to be fulfilled.
Fuentes Principal sets a good example for healthy living
At 5’6”, Fuentes Principal Regina Butcher knew her health needed to improve. And how could she tell her students to eat healthy and exercise when she wasn’t modeling that behavior? So she signed up for and earned a spot in the H-E-B Slim Down showdown; only 25 participants across the state are selected each year.
Butcher has found a school full of supportive students, staff and parents all urging her to make sound nutrition choices and exercise every day. At a recent pep rally, Butcher was greeted by H-E-Buddy and the Fuentes Star who joined her in dancing and celebrating the school’s outpouring of support. Students from each grade demonstrated exercise options: dance and yoga were just two types of exercise shown.
If Butcher wins the grand prize of $10,000, she has promised it will be used to create a new walking track around the playground. The kids cheered when they heard they could get a real track. Butcher said it would be for the entire Fuentes community since so many folks use the dirt trail around the back of the school for running and walking already.
With her school’s support, Butcher is already down 16 pounds and has no plans to slow down. She said her students brought her a desk full of apples and oranges on Valentine’s Day instead of candy and cupcakes. She said she was so thankful that they have been so sweet and supportive of her endeavor to change her life.
Butcher earns points in the contest when visitors to her blog comment on her progress or just post notes to cheer her on: visit www.heb.com/slimdown and click on Regina to comment and help Principal Butcher on her journey to good health!
Fitness Camp returns
Hays CISD will again offer fitness camps for students during the summer break this year. The program, piloted at Chapa Middle School and Barton Middle School last summer, was very encouraging. Coach Wendy Morgan from Tobias Elementary is very excited about running the camps again. She said the students loved the camp and it was fun for her to share her knowledge of fitness and healthy living.
Though the details have not been nailed down just yet, Whitney Self, a Fitness and Wellness teacher for the district, said the camps will likely be offered at multiple schools this time around.
Look for flyers to come home in backpacks later this spring and get connected to “Healthy Hays” on Facebook to stay up to date on all the healthy living happening at Hays CISD.
