Ethridge Elementary School physical education teacher Derek Story is beginning to see the truth behind the well-known saying, “Ask and you shall receive.” Last fall, he applied for his second-consecutive Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60 grant. This month, Storey received his second-consecutive $3,000 check.
“I filled out a question a day, and before I knew it, I was finished,” he said. “I think it is important to take advantage of opportunities like this to provide additional learning experiences for my students.”
Last school year, Storey used his grant to buy blenders and supplies, launching a smoothie bar during National School Breakfast Week.
“We knew some students might have fruits they typically did not like, or others might be too small to eat a large piece,” he explained. “We figured if we chopped up some traditional fruits like apples or bananas and then threw in a mango, it would get them to try something new. Now when they are at the grocery store, they might recognize those fruits and make healthy choices.”
This year, Storey is buying his students pedometers to monitor activity during gym class.
“We tell them that the more they move, the healthier they are,” he said. “Pedometers are a good motivator because students like watching their number of steps go up. Sometimes you will see them running in place because they want the steps. I just hope students take this awareness with them to middle and high school, college, wherever. I want them to have the mindset that it is all right to move, eat something healthy and get a good night’s rest because it all benefits their body. If they take something with them then I have achieved my goal.”
Ethridge Elementary was selected from hundreds of schools across the country that applied for funding to help jumpstart and sustain healthy nutrition and physical activity improvements. Grant funding is provided by the dairy farm families of Dairy MAX. Schools can learn more about eligibility requirements, and find the Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60 application, at FuelUpToPlay60.com. There are several application windows each year.