By

Melissa Powell,   Okeene Es

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Topics:

Access to Healthy Foods, Community Involvement, Student Leadership,  Teamwork

At our elementary school all students participated in a reading marathon. Students were encouraged to wear comfy clothes, bring pillows, and READ, READ, READ! Community volunteers and high school sports team players came up to help read with our pre-1 through second grade students. We also had a surprise visit from Pistol Pete, the mascot for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. During our 2-hour reading marathon, students could purchase snacks and drinks, and all proceeds go toward matching funds for purchasing new playground equipment. In the past, the snacks have been chips, pop, cookies, ect. This year, to help promote healthy food choices, we offered fresh fruits, whole grain crackers, dried fruits, low-fat cheese sticks and yogurts, 100% juice, and water. The kids and helpers loved the snacks! All the fresh fruits and low-fat dairy snacks were snatched up quickly. We look forward to holding another event in the spring and continue to advocate for healthy choices and activity in school and at home!

What improvements have you seen at your school?

The healthy snacks at the reading marathon are just one way we have made healthy changes and continue to set an example for wellness to our students.

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

We plan to make the reading marathon an bi-annual event for our school.

How did students and adults work together as a team?

Teachers, students, community volunteers, and high school sports teams came together to make this event a huge success. The team mascot from the Oklahoma State Cowboys, Pistol Pete, even made an appearance.