 |
| Hillside Middle School cafeteria staff: Head cook Dianna Gosselin, Lisa Voisine, manager Diane Cormier, Judi Jordan, Ruthanne MacDonald, Joanne Allard, Helen Gamelin and Catherine Dupuis |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
has announced that Hillside Middle School has earned a bronze HealthierUS
School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms award. Hillside joins the ranks of an
elite group of schools across the country recognized for excellence in their
integration of health, nutrition and fitness education. Only about 7% of the
nation’s schools have achieved bronze, silver, gold, or gold of distinction
HealthierUS status. About 30 schools in New Hampshire have been recognized;
three of them in Manchester.
The HealthierUS challenge is a key
component of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s
Move! initiative to end childhood
obesity within a generation. Schools participating in the challenge voluntarily
adopt USDA standards for food they serve at their schools, agree to provide
nutrition education, and provide opportunities for physical activity.
Hillside Middle School demonstrates
the award criteria in all areas that promote healthy lifestyle habits. The
physical education curriculum emphasizes lifelong fitness and why physical
activity is important. The middle school life skills class includes nutrition
education and food science in every unit. Students learn to make healthy eating
choices at school and at home. Hillside's cafeteria offers a variety of fruits,
vegetables, snacks and milk along with daily meal choices. Food services staff continually
look for creative ways to make healthy food presentations appealing, including
involving the students in meal preparation.
"We are proud of all of our
schools for the healthy meals they provide to students," said Manchester
School District school food and nutrition director Jim Connors. "This
award recognizes the efforts that go above and beyond to enhance the
integration of the smarter lunchroom with everyday education."
To celebrate Hillside Middle
School's accomplishment, a representative from the USDA presented Connors,
school administrators and staff with a banner and plaque during a school
assembly. Mayor Ted Gatsas and school district superintendent Debra Livingston were
there to offer their congratulations, and the audience watched a “Healthy
Hillside Happenings” video showcasing Hillside’s various exercise and nutrition
initiatives. The celebration wrapped up with three abbreviated student-faculty
basketball games; the staff team won two of them.
Hillside is Manchester’s third
school to receive the USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms
award. McLaughlin Middle School also achieved bronze status late last fall, and
Beech Street Elementary School was recognized with a silver award in February.
Comments
Post a Comment