By

Bonnie Havlicek,   Central Montcalm Upper Elem.

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Student Leadership

The Student Leadership Team was the key to our successful Fuel Up to Play 60 initiatives. The Snack Like a Super Hero kick-off event featured physical activity and make and taste healthy snack stations. The students decorated the gym and cafeteria, set up the stations and were in charge of providing nutrition information, organizing participant flow at the event. The Student Leadership Team then completed a School Wellness Investigation and chose 3 initiatives that they thought would help improve the health of the students. The team promoted the Celebrity Sectioner, Dip It Taste Test and Fuel Up Classroom Challenge on their school news program and by making and putting up posters in the school. Their creativity, enthusiasm and efforts engaged fellow students, families and teachers in the completed Plays.

How did students and adults work together as a team?

The Student leadership Team worked well with key adults to plan and organize the Fuel UP events. They worked side by side with adult volunteers at the Snack Like a Super Hero nights to staff the snack and physical activity stations. They worked closely with teachers and administrators to promote the events and to arrange their schedules to work at the Celebrity Sectioner and Taste Test events. They also worked with lunchroom staff to assure that the lunch hour events ran smoothly.

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

At our year end wrap up meeting, we'll discuss plans to continue the student Leadership Team next year. It will be great to start out next year with a seasoned core group of students who are enthusiastic and a joy to work with. We're anticipating that the graduating 5th graders may want to start a Fuel Up to Play 60 initiative next year when they move up to Middle School.

What improvements have you seen at your school?

Students are more aware of healthy choices and more willing to taste new foods. Parents have reported that students are making healthier choices at home and encouraging the whole family to be more active.