BCBSKS foundation assists schools in promoting healthy lifestyle choices to their K-12 students with $200,000 in grants – Pratt Tribune

TOPEKA, Kansas (Jan. 23, 2023) – Every year, the Blue Cross and Blue Protect of Kansas Basis shares practically $200,000 in Wholesome Habits for Life grants to help faculties in implementing applications that promote wholesome way of life selections to their Okay-12 college students. This 12 months, 119 faculties had been awarded grants. These school-based applications should tackle at the least considered one of 4 standards: cut back cardiovascular threat, enhance bodily exercise, study wholesome consuming habits, and reinforce optimistic psychological well being amongst college students.
Since its creation in 2006, the Wholesome Habits for Life grant program has awarded practically $2 million by way of greater than 1,900 grants. Faculty personnel have used previous grant {dollars} to teach college students on wholesome portion sizes, start a every day strolling program for college students earlier than or after college, put money into gear for bodily schooling lessons, and far more.
Layne Nash, bodily schooling instructor from Farley Elementary Faculty in Topeka, just lately obtained a Wholesome Habits for Life grant. Nash bought an impediment course that can higher assist cardiovascular health and plans on internet hosting a household evening in order that college students can share it with household.
“Having the ability to apply and obtain a grant just like the Wholesome Habits for Life grant from Blue Cross and Blue Protect of Kansas permits for lecturers like myself to open up new alternatives for our college students.” stated Nash “Not all college students have the identical alternatives as each other outdoors of college so I’m excited to implement a brand new impediment course model unit that college students can discover and make the most of.”
“I like incorporating lots of health and motion in majority of my classes as a result of it improves physique management and may also enhance stability and suppleness and muscular power. My college students will like to problem themselves with the acquisition of this gear!”
Chelsea Koenigsman, bodily schooling instructor from Northeast Magnet Excessive Faculty in Wichita, additionally obtained a Wholesome Habits for Life grant. Koenigsman bought gear that can permit college students to discover completely different exercises safely and enhance their bodily exercise.
“We’re excited to spend many of the grant cash for our weight room. We plan to buy some lighter weight gear for our newbie lifters. With this gear, we plan to have a brand new unit for our ninth grade PE class to study the fundamentals of weightlifting.” stated Koenigsman. “With this gear, we plan to have a brand new unit for our ninth grade PE class to study the fundamentals of weightlifting and hopefully spark some curiosity.”
“With our PE finances being low and gear being break up between three completely different lessons, not a lot might be bought annually. Having the chance to use for a grant like Wholesome Habits for Life, provides us the chance to make bigger purchases. This grant cash will present alternatives for our primarily freshman class to study the fundamentals of weightlifting. This may give college students the liberty to have extra weight selections which might be applicable for them,” she stated.