Elementary students have new jump ropes, playground and soccer balls, hula hoops, toss and catch paddles and balls, and other play equipment thanks to a recent grant received from the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program. The program also recently rewarded elementary students who participated in a 4-week Walking Challenge.
The AtlantiCare grant provided $750 in funding to purchase new equipment for organized play during recess for students in kindergarten to the 5th grade. The new equipment will also be used by students in the Cougar Camp summer program. ACS was one of 63 public and non-public schools in southern New Jersey — from elementary to high school — that received grant funding this year from AtlantiCare.
AtlantiCare congratulated the students in 10 elementary classes who, at various times during the school year, participated in a 4-week Walking Challenge and collectively racked up a total of 2,671 minutes of walking. This week, each student in the participating classes received a prize for their efforts, including water pouches, fidget bracelets, and stickers.
“We are very grateful to the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program for helping support our efforts to promote the health and wellness of our students,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “Spending time outdoors during recess and walking together as a class are two great ways for our younger students to get healthy exercise and studies show that it helps our students’ energy and creativity in the classroom.”
The 4-week Walking Challenge was among a number of health and wellness activities that ACS students participated in throughout the school year. ACS also recently applied for and was approved to receive an additional year-end grant of $300 from AtlantiCare that will support health and wellness initiatives in the next school year.
