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Middle School at Parkside
JACKSON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
JACKSON County
2400 4th Street
Jackson, Michigan  49203-4573

Enrollment:   835
Public School

Success Story Contact:
Maralyne Lectka
RN School Nurse
Phone: 517-841-2307
Email: mlectka@jpsmail.org


Success Story Information:

Reach:
  • Building level
  • Classroom level
Duration: 10 to 12 months
Costs:
  • Breakfast food ingredients
  • $1,001 - $2,500
Factors for Success:
  • Coordinated School Health Team
  • Completing an assessment (such as Healthy School Action Tool Assessment, School Health Index, Changing the Scene)
  • Administrative support
  • Funding
  

SCHOOL BREAKFAST
SUCCESS STORY

Last year, we received an HSAT Grant and decided to start a Breakfast Club during the first hour of Life Skills class. We decided on a Breakfast Club because many of our students were not eating breakfast at home or participating in the School Breakfast Program. We had several students complaining of stomach pains in the morning and missing class as a result of visits to the School Nurse. At first, we received mixed reviews from students about the Breakfast Club. However, by the end of each trimester, every student is heavily involved and fully supportive.

Each trimester, 29 students learn about good nutrition and the Food Guide Pyramid. Students make their own breakfast in the classroom, and at the end of the trimester, they write a recipe book of things they’ve made. They learn to cook and clean up after themselves, and most importantly, to work as a team. One morning, the School Nurse and a guest were invited to join the club for breakfast. The students baked an egg casserole with cheese and mushrooms, and served it with milk and orange juice.

Student made posters about breakfast and healthy eating have been hung in the hallways at school. Some students made Power Point presentations to be shared with other classes, including those at the elementary level. Other students wrote breakfast-related skits. In the future, we hope to have these students perform their skits at a nearby elementary school.

Results from the first trimester showed that students who hadn't eaten breakfast in the past were enjoying eating breakfast and found they felt better. The first trimester ended in December. We’re happy to report that the students involved in the Breakfast Club continue to go to the lunchroom own their own to have breakfast every morning.

We also used a small portion of the grant money to conduct taste-tests to help make improvements to our school menus. Students were asked if they liked the food and if they would like to see it on the menu. One of the items the students liked best was the Homemade Oatmeal Energy Bar. This healthier item, and many others (including hot apple slices with cinnamon and milk), are now part of our school menus.
 
Other Relevant School Information

Our Coordinated School Health Team/Committee has the following active members: School Administration (Principal, Assistant Principal, Superintendent);Nutrition Services (Food Service Director or Manager);Physical Education (PE teacher);Health Education (Health teacher, educator or school health coordinator);Classroom teacher (not PE or Health);Health Services Provider or School Nurse;School Counselor, Psychologist or Social Worker;Community Involvement (Health Department, MSU Extension, Heart Association, Cancer Society, Asthma or Tobacco or Other Health Coalition, Safe and Drug-Free School Coordinator, Law Enforcement Representative)

Our Team/Committee met 4 or more times during the past 12 months.

Assessments* Completed: Healthy School Action Tools (HSAT)*;School Health Index (SHI) for Physical Activity, Healthy Eating and Tobacco-Free Lifestyle: A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;Healthy School Report Card: An Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Action Tool;Other, please describe:;MiPHY; Asset Survey; Youth Risk Behavior Survey

This School Success Story was submitted on 1/12/2010

*Since 2004, The Healthy School Action Tool Assessment is Michigan’s preferred assessment tool that is a combination of the School Health Index and Changing the Scene.



The Michigan Healthy School Success Story website is brought to you by the American Cancer Society, Michigan Action for Healthy Kids, Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan State University Extension, and United Dairy Industry of Michigan