By Erica Thomas, managing editor
MOODY — Moody Elementary was one of 26 schools statewide to be named a 2021 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama “Be Healthy School.”
Because of the school’s physical education program, Assistant Principal Jamie Giangrosso said the school will receive a grant of $10,000.
“We are very excited and very, very proud because we know this is going to do wonderful things for our students and the families of our students in our community,” Giangrosso said.
The plan is to put money into physical education equipment, recess equipment, and a new nutrition program called Organ Wiseguys. The nutrition program helps to encourage children to try new, healthy foods.
“It also focuses on foods every month. There are two foods every month that the kids will go over,” Giangrosso explained. “They learn the nutritional values of those foods and we hope to feature the foods in our lunchroom. The program really helps to expand their nutrition palate.”
The nutrition program also focuses on a different organ of the body each month and what foods are essential to those organs.
Some of the things that will be purchased with the grant money will include portable basketball goals, a gymnastic mat, stationary bicycles, push-up trainers, a parachute, stencils and paint to decorate concrete areas for extra activities.
“We want to encourage physical activities during recess instead of just standing and walking,” Giangrosso said. “We want to encourage them to move a little more.”
For community involvement, the school hopes to bring back its Color Run and they will work to encourage family exercise at home. The school is also a part of the HEAL Program (Healthy Eating, Active Living of Alabama).
Since 2012, Blue Cross has awarded over $2.3 million in 253 Be Healthy School Grants statewide impacting more than 119,000 students.
“In our commitment to help prevent childhood obesity, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama’s Be Healthy School Grant Program is awarding $252,000 in grants to 26 schools statewide enrolling students in grades K through sixth for the 2021-2022 school year,” Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama said in a press release.
The following schools were selected as recipients for the 2021-2022 school year. They will be awarded large checks in at each school in the fall.
Andalusia Elementary
Asbury Elementary
Columbia Elementary
Dannelly Elementary
Edgewood Elementary
Greenville Middle
Hackleburg Elementary
Highland Avenue Elementary
Highland Home School
Homewood Middle
Horseshoe Bend High
Hueytown Intermediate
I3 Academy
James L. Coward Elementary
Monroe Elementary
Moody Elementary
Moundville Elementary
Pleasant Home School
Saraland Elementary
Valley Head School
Vina School
Wedowee Middle
West Decatur Elementary
Wetumpka Middle
Wilson Hall Middle