News & Updates – Out of School Time

Communities In Schools of Greenville at Duncan Chapel Elementary Named to All Health Team

Communities In Schools of Greenville at Duncan Chapel Elementary has been named to the All-Health Team, administered by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, for their efforts to promote eating healthy eating and physical activity in their school and community.

As a part of this award by the All-Health Team, Communities In Schools at Duncan Chapel was awarded $500 to expand their existing Health and Wellness Club. They also plan to expand their nutrition education classes by offering cooking classes for students and parents that focus on healthy eating. They plan to expand their organic garden by adding more varieties of vegetables and they plan to increase their physical education instruction by adding volleyball, soccer and running programs for students.

2010 USDA Guidelines

The 2010 USDA Dietary Guidelines are available online. A press release by the USDA emphasizes the importance of balancing caloric intake with physical activity and a commentary by the author of Food Politics highlights the importance of changing the food environment to improve access to healthy foods. To view the full report click here and to view an executive summary click here.

Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act passes with broad bipartisan support.

As one of her chief responsibilities and greatest passions, the First lady has dedicated herself to helping our children grow up healthy and reversing the alarming childhood obesity trend — so the President’s signing of the the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act this morning at a local DC school was particularly meaningful for her:

“We can all agree that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, all children should have the basic nutrition they need to learn and grow and to pursue their dreams, because in the end, nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our children.  Nothing.  And our hopes for their future should drive every single decision that we make.”

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act will promote nutrition and wellness in child care settings through the federally-subsidized Child and Adult Care Food Program and expand USDA authority to support meals served to at-risk children in afterschool programs.  Click here to read more.