Columbia Primary has received a Healthy School Award from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, which includes $25,000 for wellness programs.
School Nurse Crystal Wallace said Thursday they’re very excited about winning the grant and that the school’s wellness committee will meet to decide exactly what to do with the proceeds.
“Our hope is to get exercise equipment for staff,” she said. “We would love to get some shade spot coverings for our playground equipment because it gets so hot.”
Other options include planting a small vegetable garden, which the cooking club for second graders could use to plant, harvest and cook; a salad bar and smoothie machine for the cafeteria; and a grab-and-go breakfast cart for students who miss breakfast.
It’s the first time for Columbia Primary to win the award. Columbia Elementary, where Wallace is also the nurse, won it two years ago.
She said they submitted a lengthy application that detailed all of the things the school does to promote health. Many teachers use Move to Learn videos to get children up and moving so they can learn better, and first graders recently brought in apples as part of a Johnny Appleseed lesson. Wallace also teaches health lessons for activity classes.
Poplarville Lower Elementary won the top spot and $50,000, and along with CPS, Oak Park Elementary in Ocean Springs also received the Healthy School Award and $25,000. The awards are judged by an independent panel of Mississippi leaders in education and youth services.
