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Kansas Schools Win Fuel Up to Play 60 Physical Activity Challenge
Kansas State Department of Education, Midwest Dairy Council, and the Kansas City Chiefs Reward several Kansas schools for Leading the Way Toward Healthy Improvements
Topeka, Kan. May 16, 2012 - This spring, the Kansas State Department of Education and Midwest Dairy Council teamed up to encourage schools to showcase how their schools got active each day. Five Kansas schools were announced as winners in the Fuel Up to Play 60 Physical Activity Challenge. Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program created in partnership with Midwest Dairy Council and the National Football League that encourages students to eat healthy, be active and implement positive, healthy changes at school.
This year’s Physical Activity Challenge encouraged students to showcase how their schools get active each day – from a walking club to in-class activity breaks – and upload a video that demonstrated how they enacted the Challenge at their school. Winners include:
Kansas Grand Prize School:
• Gardiner Elementary School; Wichita USD 259 (Wichita, KS)
Kansas Runner-Up Schools (alphabetical order):
• Eisenhower Elementary School; Norton Community USD 211 (Norton, KS)
• Lincoln Elementary School; McPherson USD 418 (McPherson, KS)
• Ridgeview Elementary; Olathe School District USD 233 (Olathe, KS)
• Valley Heights Elementary, Valley Heights USD 498 (Blue Rapids, KS)
Grand prize winner Gardiner Elementary School will be awarded a KC Chiefs NFL Alumni Player Visit in May. Runner-up schools will receive a visit by KC Chiefs mascot KC Wolf in May or during back-to-school time.
“We could not be more impressed by the Challenge submissions sent in by students and schools across Kansas,” said Bridget Sheehan, Midwest Dairy Council Health and Wellness Program Manager. “It is truly inspiring to see how these kids are making a difference in their health and at their schools. In addition, our partnership with Kansas State Department of Education captured how students added physical activity before, during, or after school.”
Each winning video will be featured in the Kansas State Department of Education’s Eat Smart Play Hard Video News.
“I’m so proud of the students for their hard work and determination in completing the Challenge submissions,” said Cheryl Johnson, Director of Child Nutrition and Wellness, Kansas State Department of Education. “Fuel Up to Play 60 has really generated excitement about health and wellness among Kansas students. We look forward to showcasing these videos through next school year.”
There are a series of Fuel Up to Play 60 Challenges that youth can get involved in throughout the 2012-2013 school year. Each Challenge focuses on a different aspect of the program and provides the opportunity for students to work together to showcase what they have learned about “fueling up” with nutrient-rich foods and getting at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. By completing Challenges, students get the chance to have their submission featured in the Challenge Showcase on the national Fuel Up to Play 60 website and earn exclusive online badges and rewards for the participation on FuelUpToPlay60.com.
Students and teachers can join the current Challenge or watch other schools’ submissions on the Fuel Up to Play 60 SchoolTube channel, located at http://www.schooltube.com/user/futp60. To learn more about the Fuel Up to Play 60 movement, visit www.FuelUpToPlay60.com.
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Midwest Dairy Council®, an affiliate of National Dairy Council, is the nutrition education division of Midwest Dairy Association. The Council is dedicated to dairy nutrition research and education through the investment of more than 9,500 dairy farm families across 10 Midwestern states, and is committed to child health and wellness through our collaborative program, Fuel Up to Play 60. For more information, visit www.midwestdairy.com. Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook at Midwest Dairy.
The Kansas State Department of Education provides leadership and support for student learning through oversight of a variety of state and federal programs designed to provide access and services to all Kansas K-12 students and to improve teaching strategies. The Kansas State Department of Education ensures compliance with all state and federal education laws and regulations.
About Fuel Up to Play 60
Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy Council (NDC) and NFL, in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy foods, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
Fuel Up to Play 60 is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. Customizable and non-prescriptive program components are grounded in research with youth, including tools and resources, in-school promotional materials, a website and student challenges. Fuel Up to Play 60 is further supported by several health and nutrition organizations: Action for Healthy Kids, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dietetic Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association and School Nutrition Association. Visit www.FuelUpToPlay60.com to learn more. Media resources, including related video footage and photos are available at www.FuelUpToPlay60MediaResources.com.
About National Dairy Council
National Dairy Council® (NDC), the non-profit organization funded by the national dairy checkoff program, is committed to nutrition education and research-based communications. NDC provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier nation, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. Established in 1915, NDC comprises a staff of registered dietitians and nutrition research and communications experts across the country. NDC has taken a leadership role in promoting child health and wellness through programs such as Fuel Up to Play 60. Developed by NDC and the National Football League (NFL), Fuel Up to Play 60 encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. For more information, visit www.NationalDairyCouncil.org.
About NFL PLAY 60
Designed to help tackle childhood obesity, NFL PLAY 60 brings together the NFL’s long-standing commitment to health and fitness with partner organizations like the National Dairy Council. NFL PLAY 60 is also implemented locally, as part of the NFL’s in-school, after-school and team-based programs. For more information, visit www.NFLRush.com.