Schools throughout the country that met the HealthierUS School Challenge by June 30 were invited to send one school representative and guest and one district representative and guest to the reception. A delegation of eight teachers, principals, administrators and food service staff attended from Kent County.
“First Lady Obama congratulated us on our commitment to children and talked about the importance of implementing these steps to help children learn and to fight the obesity epidemic,” said Margaret Ellen Kalmanowicz, the school system’s food service supervisor.
“She asked us to return home and encourage more schools to meet the HealthierUS School Challenge,” said Kalmanowicz. “She also stressed that healthy nutrition and physical activity need to be an integrated into our school and community culture.”
Nationwide, less than 2 percent of schools have met the HealthierUS School Challenge. Kent County’s award-winning schools also received recognition at the December 2010 Board of Education Meeting from USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, Kevin Concannon. The schools received plaques, banners and a total of $4,000 to deposit into their food-service accounts.
See a video of First Lady Obama's talk at the reception.
