Archive for October 7, 2011
Bethune Elementary participates in Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Strong4Life Challenge
ATLANTA – As part of Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School kicked off its week-long Strong4Life Challenge on September 19 with a school-wide pep rally. Sponsored by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), the Strong4Life Challenge is a year-long program that gets kids excited about nutrition and physical activity.
During the week, the Strong4Life team handed out fruits and veggies to Bethune students during the lunch periods, coordinated with the PE teacher to plan fun activities, and performed mini skits on drinking more water, limiting sugary drinks and limiting screen time to 60 minutes per day. In addition, students were also given fun challenges for home that required parent participation. All students who participated in the pep rally, classroom activities and fun run received a free Strong4Life Challenge t-shirt.
“Here at Bethune Elementary, our students and staff bring their A game. We were ready to take on the challenge of fighting childhood obesity and live healthier lives with the ‘Green Guys,’” said Bethune interim principal Barbara Lashley. “Getting our parents and students more knowledgeable is the first step. With the help of the Strong4Life team, the chef, our parents, and our faculty/staff, we are well on our way to making our students here at Bethune Elementary School well rounded.”
Barbara Lashley
Georgia has the second highest childhood obesity rate in the country. Children who are overweight are now suffering from diseases once seen only in adults such as hypertension, liver and kidney disease and Type 2 diabetes. With that in mind, CHOA created the Strong4Life campaign to help Georgia kids and their families become healthier by eating right and being more active.
For more information about Strong4Life, visit http://www.strong4life.com.
West Manor Elementary Launches e-Learning Partnership
(From L-R) Atlanta-Fulton Public Library’s child services manager Tisa Jackson, West Manor Elementary students Jeffery Holmes and Askya Alexander, interim principal Dr. Reginald Lawrence and Atlanta-Fulton Public Library’s administrative coordinator Juree Hall (Photo courtesy of West Manor Elementary).
ATLANTA – West Manor Elementary kicked off its eCampus learning initiative with the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System on Monday. ECampus is the library’s online learning suite of tutoring, test preparation and educational resources for all ages.
Mrs. Juree Hall, administrative coordinator and Mrs. Tisa Jackson, child services manager gave a presentation on the program to students, and began the process of registering to register every West Manor student for a library card. The registration number on the card will provide students and their parents with access to the library’s eCampus resources.
West Manor plans to use the SkillsTutor, Tutor.com and ePrep aspects of eCampus for grades K-5 core subjects and writing. The eCampus program will allow for access to both enrichment and remediation activities, with the added bonus of an online tutor assisting the student in real time.
“With 100 percent of our students registering for library cards from the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System, the eCampus program will enhance our efforts to remediate and accelerate our students and provide access for parents to monitor and work with their child outside of the classroom,” said West Manor Elementary Interim Principal Dr. Reginald Lawrence.
Atlanta City Councilman Aaron Watson Joins Reading Is Fundamental to Support Literacy Efforts at Benteen Elementary
CIS of Atlanta's Patty Pflum and Henry Coleman join Councilman Aaron Watson, Clifford the Big Red Dog and Benteen students.
Atlanta – Oct. 4, 2011 – Today, Atlanta City Councilman Aaron Watson was joined by Clifford the Big Red Dog and Communities In Schools (CIS) of Atlanta Executive Director Patty Pflum at Benteen Elementary School for the Atlanta stop of the Be A Reader tour. Through this national partnership, Carl Buddig is donating $100,000 to Reading Is Fundamental’s to support children’s literacy programs.
Councilman Aaron Watson and Patty Pflum read, “Max for President” to a captive audience of third graders at Atlanta’s Benteen Elementary School. Beloved children’s book character, Clifford the Big Red Dog, was on hand to greet Benteen’s students and help with book selections. After an engaging question and answer session with Councilman Watson, each student selected a new book for their home libraries.
“Reading is so very important,” shared Watson, a graduate of Notre Dame and Duke universities. “I attribute my love of reading and learning with my success. I want to see each of you succeed in life too.”
Patty Pflum was happy to see that Benteen’s students enjoyed the event. “We are thrilled to be able to work with local schools to bring programs like Reading Is Fundamental to students,” said Patricia Pflum, Communities In Schools of Atlanta Executive Director. “Without RIF and committed partners like Buddig, many children in our community would not have books at home.”
“Our brand has been nourishing young minds for more than 100 years, and we believe that reading and literacy go hand-in-hand with good nutrition to support a lifelong love of learning,” said Tom Buddig, executive vice president marketing, Carl Buddig & Company. “We’re thrilled to be sponsoring the Be A Reader tour and proud to be part of the work that RIF is doing in local communities across the nation.”
“Now more than ever, RIF is counting on strong corporate partners like Carl Buddig & Company to fulfill its mission of motivating children to become lifelong readers, prepared to achieve in school and life,” said Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of RIF.
The Be A Reader campaign extends through May of 2012 and encourages families to enjoy reading time together through activities, special promotions, and community outreach. Now through Oct. 30, families can also participate in the Sandwich and A Story sweepstakes (www.Buddig.com/SandwichAndAStory) for a chance to win a Scholastic book library and a Buddig lunchpack filled with school supplies.
To learn more about the Buddig Be A Reader campaign, visit www.buddig.com.To make a donation to RIF, visit www.rif.org/donate. To learn more about Communities In Schools of Atlanta, visit www.cisatlanta.org.
Councilman Aaron Watson reads to Benteen's students.
About Carl Buddig & Company:
Carl Buddig & Company, based in Homewood, Ill., has been nourishing young minds for more than 100 years with the very best in taste, variety and convenience. Now Buddig is nourishing young minds as a proud supporter of Reading is Fundamental (RIF). Carl Buddig & Company is a family owned, privately held company managed by the third generation of the original founder. The Buddig family business got its start as a butcher shop on Chicago’s south side in the 1880s. Since 1940 Carl Buddig & Company has offered thin-sliced lean meats for sandwiches, snacks and special recipes. Visit www.buddig.com for more information about Carl Buddig products.
About Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF)
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), founded in 1966, motivates children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF’s highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provided 4 million children with 15 million new, free books and literacy resources last year. For more information and to access reading resources, visit RIF’s website at www.rif.org.
About Communities In Schools of Atlanta
Communities In Schools (CIS) of Atlanta, founded in 1972, surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Through partnerships with Atlanta Public Schools and the DeKalb County School System, CIS of Atlanta impacts the lives of more than 45,000 students annually. CIS of Atlanta’s award-winning dropout prevention programs focus on improving student attendance and behavior, increasing parental engagement and bring critical resources to students and families. CIS of Atlanta operates one of the largest Reading Is Fundamental programs in Georgia. Visit www.cisatlanta.org for more information.
