2018 Schools Strategy Updates
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Mazeppa Elementary offers new opportunities to increase physical activity throughout the school day.
“I was impressed with how easily and quickly the yoga activity fit into the classroom. The students really appreciated this and have asked for yoga to be part of our daily routine!”
- Katie Kennedy, Health Educator
With Wabasha County SHIP support, teachers at Mazeppa Elementary were trained in August to implement Yoga 4 Classrooms within their classrooms during the 2018/2019 school year. Yoga 4 Classrooms is an evidence-based yoga and mindfulness program for schools to promote social, emotional and physical wellness, learning readiness and positive school climate. Opportunities to be active during the school day while students are in classrooms can improve student concentration and attention and reduce disruptive behavior.
Another opportunity to increase physical activity will be introduced to students during the 2018/2019 school year with “Nordic Rocks” Youth Ski Packages. The cross country skis have been ordered and are expected to arrive in October 2018 when staff will receive an in-person training on the curriculum to implement the use of these ski packages.
Mazeppa Elementary SRTS
Mazeppa Elementary Safe Routes to School project supported by Wabasha County SHIP.
Zumbrota-Mazeppa School District launched a large-scale Safe Routes to School (SRTS) project in September 2016 with the support of Live Well Goodhue County and Wabasha County SHIP. Representatives from the City of Zumbrota, City of Mazeppa, Zumbrota-Mazzeppa School District and community members participated in the Bike Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN) SRTS Community Training. In April 2017, the school hosted a BikeMN Walk! Bike! Fun! curriculum training and in June 2018, the school received a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) SRTS Planning Grant.
The MNDOT SRTS Planning grant wrapped up in July 2018 with non-infrastructure and infrastructure recommendations made. The school district has requested funding for Walk, Ride, and Roll flyers which should be available to students, staff and parents in the Fall of 2018.
See Walk, Ride and Roll to School maps for Zumbrota
See Walk, Ride and Roll to School maps for Mazeppa
Read more about SRTS Summary for Zumbrota and SRTS Summary for Mazeppa.
If you would like information on what it means to partner with Wabasha County SHIP, please email Tina Moen or call her at 651-565-5200.
Lake City Public Schools expands its healthy eating initiatives with SHIP support.
In April 2018, Lake City Public Schools hosted an open house for its SHIP funded year-round greenhouse. The new greenhouse will result in opportunities to experience healthy foods year-round. This summer, Tiger Time children will grow food themselves and may have the opportunity to learn how to sell them at Lake City's Market by the Lake.
The greenhouse garden continues to grow strong and is used as a tool for students to learn where food comes from and why it is important to eat healthy foods. Students have taken stake in the process of growing food and have gained physical activity while pulling weeds, harvesting and carrying produce into the school in baskets. Moving forward, the school will be taking leadership in this innovative year-round greenhouse project.
Nikki Beucler, Lincoln High School agriculture teacher, indicated the greenhouse regulates its own temperature with computer controls and this is the type of technology students would use if they went out to get jobs in this field; its great knowledge to have. A greenhouse course will be available to students in the fall. Lunchtime Solutions, the schools food service, has been a big supporter of bringing in farm fresh foods and has offered to purchase the produce at wholesale rates to implement into the lunchroom menus.
Lake City Public Schools had already been very committed to SHIP by being involved with our CLT, Worksite Wellness Collaborative and a partner in our School Strategy. The district has committed to the process of completing the School Health Index annually and with that have created aggressive action plans in the areas of healthy eating and physical activity. The district has already put a large focus on healthy eating in their elementary school with a SHIP-supported, school-based agriculture project and with the addition of healthy snack carts.
Our collaboration with local champions has resulted in our county being progressive leaders in healthy eating.
With CLT’s strong support, two farmers markets have implemented EBT and Power of Produce (POP). Additionally, Farmers’ Market Aggregation projects have resulted in food being distributed to local schools, restaurants, employers, hospitals, and childcare facilities.
Together we've realized that we could try bringing the farm to the school year-round. We believe youth need to learn where their food comes from and be involved at all levels of the process to get excited about growing and eating healthy foods.
As a strong SHIP partner, the U of MN Extension SE Region recognizes the importance of deep-winter greenhouses and a prototype for the deep-winter greenhouse is at Lake City Catholic Worker Farm in Lake City. The greenhouse will be up and running summer 2018 and they have an existing greenhouse. This local champion, along with U of MN Extension SE Region, are prepared to serve as technical supports to Lincoln High as they move forward with this innovative school-based agriculture project.
Wabasha County SHIP Community Leadership Team (CLT) has made the decision to utilize the Minnesota Food Charter in leading activities and targeting innovative advancement in healthy eating change. We have linked this amazing resource into our communications pieces such as our e-newsletter. Through partnerships with strong local champions, we have begun the Wabasha County Food Access Network using the Charter as our guide and meeting quarterly.
Lake City School District celebrates their SHIP- supported project and the news travels statewide!
We are thankful that Julie Bartkey, communications technical assistant for the Minnesota Dept. of Health, attended the Lake City School District year-round greenhouse grand opening on April 11, 2018. She diligently placed a story into MDH’s Making it Better Log and the story below resulted in statewide coverage. Thank you to all who made this project possible!
Healthy Eating Program Support
Wabasha-Kellogg School District enhances their healthy eating program with SHIP support.
The Wabasha-Kellogg School District was the recipient of a 2016-2017 SHIP mini-grant. The grant was used to fund the following three items: breakfast cart, food processor, and food warmer/holding unit.
Each of the three purchases is used as part of the school lunch program which serves both students and staff. The breakfast cart serves students in preschool – 6th grade, while the other 2 items are used to serve all students, as well as staff members. These items impact both a diverse student population (i.e. our entire student body) and low income groups (i.e. students whose families qualify for free or reduced lunches).
Breakfast Cart
A healthy breakfast certainly has a positive influence on a student’s success in the classroom says Kristi Kopp, Tajer Food Services Supervisor; some students do not eat a healthy breakfast at home, and some students do not eat any breakfast at home. The two breakfast carts are used to deliver healthy breakfast choices to preschool – 6th grade students (300 students) each morning. This provides easier access to healthy food, and makes it easier for students to make healthy choices for their breakfast.
Food Processor
Each day students are served a variety of fruits and vegetables - some on the main serving line, some in a self-serve line, and some as add-ons for salads. Common fresh vegetables served include carrots, celery, cucumbers, peppers, and radishes. The food processor makes these items easier to prepare, easier to eat, and visually more appealing, which hopefully results in more students choosing to consume them.
Food Warmer/Holding Unit
Food safety is the number one aspect of serving healthy foods, and temperature is one of the main components of food safety. The food warmer keeps foods at the appropriate temperature for serving, and also allows control over how dry or moist foods are kept. Proper temperature and humidity of the food makes them not only safe, but also more appealing, which results in more people wanting to consume the healthy choices that are offered.
SHIP strategies include making it “easier to make healthy choices” and “changing environments . . . to allow . . . easier access to healthy food”. The SHIP mini-grant purchases have aided in making both of the strategies more attainable for staff and students at Wabasha-Kellogg schools, says Kopp.
Prior to completing a grant application for SHIP funds, school districts complete the Alliance for a Healthier Generation Healthy Schools Program (School Health Index) which provides schools access to free guidance, tools and resources to implement healthy policies and practices that improve student performance, attendance and behavior.
Mini grant applications were due February 23, 2018. A second round will take place with a deadline to be announced. If you would like information on what it means to partner with Wabasha County SHIP, please email Tina Moen or call her at 651-565-5200.