By

Stephen Cefalu,   Madisonville Junior High School

Play:

NFL FLAG-In-Schools — Get in the Game!

Topics:

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

With the Flag Football Kits we received, we have totally expanded the Flag Football portion of our overall physical education and fitness program. We now have doubled the number of Flag Football teams that compete on a regular basis.

How did you accomplish your goals?

Teamwork! We have the support of the administration, faculty, students, St. Tammany Parish’s food service and menu planner. With the help of the St. Tammany Parish’s food service and menu planner, we have had three additional St. Tammany Parish schools sign up for the Fuel Up To Play 60 program. Most importantly, if we ever need any help, we can always contact Jen Duhon with the Dairy Alliance for guidance

How did students and adults work together as a team?

Before the Thanksgiving and Christmas break, everyone at our school was asked to donate a non-perishable food item that were given to the local food bank. We had the 7th grade students and teachers versus the 8th grade students and teachers. We also had each home room class compete against each other in the two grade levels. Collectively, we were able to fill a truck to the top with the donations. This is going to be a yearly giving program.

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

With the grant money we received from the Fuel Up To Play 60 program, we have purchased indoor neon lighted billboards that are used to display our daily menu for breakfast and lunch. We have also renamed our cafeteria “The Fuel Up To Play 60 Café”. We have permanent signage all around the cafeteria. Signage is at each entrance and along the line that students are in as they check-in with our cafeteria manager. It is a huge success and there are requests for more healthy food options.