The Healthy Clark County Coalition, along with the Clark County Eat Right – Be Fit Coalition, awarded the Granton Area School District a Certificate of Appreciation recognizing the excellent job it did this past school year to promote healthy lifestyles.

This past year, Granton fifth-grade teacher, Kim Aumann and physical education teacher Courtney Vaughan created the Fifth Grade Wellness Council, which organized many wellness activities throughout the year.

Some of those activities included creating a walking path around the playground, presentations about healthy lifestyles and nutritional food and making a collection of healthy snack recipes.

The school also participated in the Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) Movin’ and Munchin’ program, which was an excellent opportunity to involve students, staff and families in being active.  The challenge was to earn 75,000 miles by May 6, so principal Craig Anderson would have to dye his hair a color of their choice.

The students, staff and families surpassed the goal, earning 76,342 miles and thoroughly enjoyed watching Anderson sport neon pink hair.

The Wellness Club also sponsored a Mini-Relay for Life May 5, which raised $3,700 for the American Cancer Society.  This was a fun way to bring awareness about Cancer prevention through healthy lifestyles and integrate the elementary school’s academic theme of Global Citizenship.

The school also initiated the SPARKS Program as an after-school activity.  Ron Klein, a 4-K teacher, coordinated a Granton school and community Biggest Loser Contest.

Clark County Health Department staff serves on the Eat Right – Be Fit Coalition.  The coalition’s mission is to promote healthy lifestyles by eating right and being fit.

This past year, the coalition was one of 26 coalitions in Wisconsin to be awarded a grant as part of the Wisconsin’s Active Schools Initiative.  The money was awarded to support schools and/or provide education to the community and state and local policymakers about the importance of physical activity throughout the school day.

The Active Schools goal is to create more opportunities for students to be active in and around the school day, enabling them to get the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

The coalitions hosted a countywide Active School Conference April 27 to inform Clark County schools about the state initiative.  Ken Wagner, Active Schools Project coordinator from the DPI, was in Neillsville to present information about the project.

Wagner discussed the benefits of being active, such as higher self esteem, maintaining a healthy weight, preventing chronic diseases and improving concentration, memory and classroom behavior.

Wagner described 17 strategies schools can use to provide the 60 minutes of daily activity at in-school-related settings.  Most pilot schools throughout Wisconsin provide quality physical education class time, active recesses, and active classroom time or develop a Safe Route to School Program.

For more information about Wisconsin’s Active Schools Initiative, visit Web site: http://www.healthinpractice.org or call the Clark County Health Department at 715-743-5105.

The Granton Area School District was recently awarded for promoting healthy lifestyles.  Pictured above are: (front l-r) Susan Backaus, Healthy Clark County Coalition; Ron Klein, Biggest Loser Coordinator; Courtney Vaughan, physical education teacher; Craig Anderson, school principal; Kim Aumann, Fifth Grade Wellness Club and Tammy Yaeger, Eat Right – Be Fit Coalition.  (Contributed photo)

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