We don’t often associate rock music with school nutrition, but perhaps that’s changed after a fun-filled, rollicking event I attended at Golfview Elementary in Carpentersville, Illinois.
Even the effects of a historic Midwest blizzard couldn’t keep students, star athletes, representatives from a few federal agencies, nutrition service staff, professional athletes–and a self-proclaimed New York City rockstar–from celebrating a momentous occasion on February 4th – a USDA HealthierUS School Gold of Distinction award ceremony.
Golfview and School District 300, Illinois’s sixth largest school district, decided they would seek to qualify for USDA’s HUSSC Gold of Distinction by improving the nutrition of their school meals and providing more physical activity.
And to celebrate their receipt of a plaque from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, the school and district hosted an action-packed event. At the same time, the event commemorated the one-year anniversary of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative, of which HUSSC is a cornerstone. The event featured USDA’s Power Panther and other mascots, a jazz combo that kicked things off with a sophisticated version of the national anthem, a team of cheerleaders, speakers, a nutrition and fitness activity led by professional figure skaters and Olympic hopefuls Rockne and Collin Brubaker, an inspirational video-taped message and music video from rockstar nutritionist Jill Jayne and a glittery, rousing finale in which the entire gymnasium–filled with jumping and cheering students, teachers, administrators and partners–were showered with gold confetti.
From beginning to end, Golfview and District 300’s celebration was golden, and all for a good cause–the arrival of more nutritious school meals, more physically active school children, and ultimately, healthier children.
Congratulations to Golfview Elementary and District 300- you rock!
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