Reed Receives Grant For Wellness Program

Reed Intermediate School has been chosen to receive a $3,000 grant to support its Fuel Up to Play 60 initiative from the New England Dairy & Food Council.

Reed was selected from among hundreds of schools across the country that applied for funding to help jumpstart and sustain healthy nutrition and physical activity improvements. The nationwide funding program offers schools up to $3,000 to help them increase awareness of and access to nutrient-rich foods and physical activity opportunities for students. Funding for this competitive program is provided by New England Dairy & Food Council and America’s dairy farmers.

Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60 provides support for a variety of activities and tools, according to Chartwells resident dietitian Jill Patterson, RD, such as foodservice materials and equipment, nutrition and physical education materials, student and staff incentives, staff development and overall Fuel Up to Play 60 implementation.

The Reed Wellness Team, which uses a coordinated approach to school health, comprises Reed Assistant Principal Anthony Salvatore, Ms Patterson, Newtown District Health Coordinator Judy Blanchard, Reed school nurse Pat Phillip, DARE Officer Gladys Pisani, Reed health teacher Michelle Failla, physical education teachers Aaron Blank, Mark Gerace, and Rosanne O’Neill, and guidance counselors Jenny Grustas and Jen Welton. The team, along with Chartwells School Dining foodservice associates, teachers, and student council representatives, will be leading the Fuel Up to Play 60 events for everyone in the school to participate in throughout the school year.

A customized program was developed to continuously reinforce positive nutrition and physical activity messages and opportunities for every student throughout the entire school year, according to Ms Patterson. Events planned include monthly cafeteria nutrition promotions, one minute nutrition messages during morning announcements, “wake up with exercise” morning announcements, “taste test day,” which will include nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy, and funds toward building a fitness trail on the Reed Intermediate School property.

“Reed Intermediate School has very strong programs in place that promote nutrition and physical activity, and now we are excited about the opportunity to take our wellness programs to an even higher level with the Fuel Up to Play 60 grant,” said Ms Patterson, who is the program advisor at Reed.

More than 60,000 schools across the United States are participating in Fuel Up to Play 60. Launched by National Dairy Council, local Dairy Councils, and National Football League (NFL), in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Multiple health organizations and several major corporations are also supporting Fuel Up to Play 60, now in its second year.

“Fuel Up to Play 60 has really taken off in Newtown. Wellness champions and students in the Reed Intermediate School have embraced the program, and these funds will help them to do even more,” said Heidi Harkopf, nutrition specialist with New England Dairy and Food Council. 

For more information about Fuel Up to Play 60, visit FuelUpToPlay60.com.