Moberly Middle School

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Moberly, Missouri

Staff at Moberly Middle School appreciated the support system created through an on site employee wellness program. Seventh grade teacher Diane David said, “The fact that there were people experiencing what I was going through, especially with the difficulty and obstacles that occur with a weight loss plan, helped me to stay on track.”

Health teacher and school wellness council member Meredith Petit distributed a staff wellness interest survey and then hosted a meeting to work out the details. They decided on a weight loss challenge, where teams would come together twice a week and have a weekly weigh-in. Staff members paid ten dollars to participate and the winner at the end of the three-month period won the cash prize. Sixteen staff members joined the challenge. One student shared that the challenge “makes me want to get up and start competing against the teachers myself!”

To provide an outlet for the students to stay active the school developed a new before/afterschool program called the “Fitness Club.” Students come to school early and stay after the bell rings because they are excited about participating in physical activity opportunities. The program started when school wellness council members decided that they needed to do more to get the students moving. They said at first it was challenging to find volunteers to facilitate the club’s activities but that the wellness council members have each been doing their part to help out. According to Pettit, “We are striving toward not being another statistic; we do not want the trend to be for MMS students to be a part of the growing epidemic of childhood obesity. Kids are willing and excited to be active and healthy; they merely need to be given the opportunity.”

 

 

As a recipient of the  Healthy Schools Program National Recognition Award, this school reached an important benchmark in improving the learning and working environments of students and staff. By making significant changes in the areas of healthy eating, physical activity and staff wellness, this school has joined a growing movement of committed individuals and organizations that are working to combat childhood obesity and foster healthier communities. View all 2008-09 recognized schools >>

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