By

Cate Hernandez,   Brandywine Elementary School

Play:

Build Your Own Shake-Up

Topics:

Access to Healthy Foods, Community Involvement, Physical Activity Participation, Student Leadership, Success with Funds,  Teamwork

Brandywine Elementary is a brand new school which opened in August, 2016. Physical Education teacher, Cate Hernandez, began the year as wellness champion with several initiatives including Fuel Up to Play 60 and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. As part of the healthy school initiatives, Coach Hernandez recruited a wellness team of staff members and parents. A student wellness team was also created to assist with the new school garden which has 6 raised beds, taste tests in the cafeteria, school health promotions and our recycling program. Our Science teacher, Jessica Connell, leads the garden initiative and coordinated our first taste test with vegetables grown in the garden. The student wellness team created posters all around the school promoting “Leaf it to Spinach” and gave out samples to students to try in the cafeteria during lunch. All students who tried the samples were given a sticker. This was a successful taste test! Many students who tried the spinach also were surprised that they liked it. In the Fall of 2016, Brandywine received the Kids in the Game Go Grant which provided $2500 for Go Noodle Plus academic brain breaks for all classes and a $1,000 P.E./recess equipment grant. This year, we also started a 100 Mile Club for all students and staff. Club members in grades K-2 come to the gym to run before school on Mon/Wed and grades 3-5 come on Tues/Thurs. Students can also run at recess around the track we created on the blacktop to earn miles. We have a staff walking/running club 2 days a week after school and teachers are encouraged to walk/run with their students at recess. Our school nurse organized a diet derby January – March for staff members who wanted to eat healthier and lose weight. Twenty-seven staff members participated. We are pleased with the progress we have made in the areas of nutrition and physical activity for our Brandywine community this year and will continue to work to improve health and wellness for all of our Badger Nation.

How did you accomplish your goals?

Through the joint efforts of our wellness teams, administration and business partners, we were able to build and implement our school garden, start the 100 Mile Club and provide school-wide brain breaks for all students.

How did students and adults work together as a team?

Our wellness team and student wellness team worked together to improve school wellness. Students and adults cooperated on our wellness initiatives such as: 100 Mile Club, fun run, taste tests and family fitness night.

How do you plan to make this Play last during the school year and beyond?

Wellness programs like the school garden, 100 Mile Club, and Go Noodle Plus will all continue in years to come with the assistance of our wellness teams, administration, PTA, Dad's group, etc. Our goal for next year is to provide more nutrition education, improved recess activities and add a smoothie program in the cafeteria.