Success Stories

Maine Schools Take Action for Healthy Kids!
Here are some highlights of what's going on in Maine schools and how districts are undertaking the challenge to improve our children's nutrition and physical activity.

Share your school's successes by completing the Success Story Form and emailing it to HealthyMaineKids@yahoo.com

DEXTER

• High School has increased student milk consumption with the New Look of School Milk.
• Primary and middle schools have an after school program which offers healthy snacks.
• The Child Nutrition Program buys apples from the local orchard.

GARDINER

• Take Time in all 5 elementary schools.
• Walking School Bus in 3 elementary schools
• After School fitness clubs at the high school and middle school

GORHAM

• Participates in Maine Harvest Lunch, serving local foods on their lunch menu
• Milk vending machines at MS and HS
• Milk and water are the only bevereges offeresdthrough the lunch and a la carte programs
  Increased school meal participation and milk consumption with the New Look of School Milk.

HARRINGTON

• Elementary school uses WinterKids, Outdoor Learning Curriculum and participated in their Active Acedemics Workshop

HIRAM

• Participates in Maine Harvest Lunch, serving local foods on their lunch menu.

HOULTON

• Walking Wednesday
• Positive changes to support a Healthy Cafeteria

LEWISTON

• Montello School uses the WinterKids Outdoor Learning Curriculum and participated in their Active Acedemics Workshop
• Milk Vending – at Middle and High Schools
• Hosted the only Game On! event in Maine.

LOVELL

• New Suncook Elementary School is in the process of implementing Recess Before Lunch

MARANACOOK

• Middle School uses the WinterKids Outdoor Learning Curriculum and participated in their Active Acedemics Workshop

MOUNT DESERT ISLAND

• On-campus organic garden and greenhouse
• "Farmer's Choice" brand within our school lunch program. Farmer's choice is a student run small business that engages students (for credit and through volunteerism) in creating organic sandwiches and smoothies using as much locally produced dairy, meat, and produce as possible.
• Continued integration between nutrition education and school food service programs
• Use of a "youth advocacy" and peer-to-peer approach to develop service-learning projects that help students guide the healthful development of our school food system
• On-going development of Local Wellness policy to support school health initiatives

MSAD 48

• Walking school bus - Corinna School
• Take Time - Hartland School
• Maine-ly Nutrition is in all elementary schools
• Milk vending at the middle and high schools
• Created a "Healthy Fundraising Guide: Money Matters"
• Healthy snack vending and no soda in all schools

OLD ORCHARD BEACH

• Created suggested classroom party policy for elementary schools
• Participate in Sugar out Day in all schools every February. That day the School lunch menu is sugar free, all students are given healthy snacks k-6, High school Natural Helpers group dresses up in fruit and vegetable costumes and pass out toothbrushes, are morning greeters, and deliver snacks ie carrots and yoghurt and encourage students to brush their teeth and eat healthy snacks.
• All milk is low fat
• Food service staff help present nutrition classes in health education classes.

PORTLAND

• Longfellow, Lyseth, Reiche Elementary Schools use the WinterKids Outdoor Learning Curriculum and participated in their Active Acedemics Workshop
• Implemented New Look of School Milk.

PITTSFIELD

• Students in grades 5-8 and teachers have a twice weekly 20 minute exercise program
• A healthy snacks policy and salad bar for grades 5-8 to complement the regular lunch program
• "Healthy Choices" a la carte menu at grade 5-8
• Recess before lunch
• Walk the hallways program

PRESQUE ISLE

• High School has a milk vending machine
• High School has increased student milk consumption by 70% by implementing New Look of School Milk!
• School farm provides school lunch with fresh produce including apples during summer and early fall semesters.
• Working on "no food as rewards" as part of the Local Wellness Policy and healthy snack policies
• Increase school meal participation with grilled wraps and a conveyor belt toaster oven for sandwiches.

SCARBOROUGH

• Uses Action for Healthy Kid's ReCharge! Program
• Uses local produce in their cafeteria
• Implemented the New Look of School Milk.

SHIRLEY ELEMENTARY

• Participates in Take Time
• Maine-ly Nutrition school
• Participate in Walk and Wheel to school events.
• Monthly visits from University of Maine Cooperative Extension on nutrition
• Students take part in Maine Winter Sports Center's Healthy Hometown Ski Program - a rental X-Country Ski program that teaches children to ski to encourage lifetime fitness and combat obesity

SOUTH PORTLAND

• Uses local produce in their cafeteria
• Uses Action for Healthy Kid's afterschool ReCharge! Program
• Boosts milk consumption with the New Look of School Milk.

SOUTHWEST HARBOR

• Pemetic Elementary has a walking club

TOPSHAM

• 10-ounce milks in a variety of flavors, called the New Look of School Milk, are being offered in a milk vending machines as through the National School Lunch Program at the middle and high schools.
• Milk vending machine at High School
• "Healthy Snack" vending programs at the Middle & High School
• "Grab-n-Go" breakfast program at middle and elementary schools. This program increased participation 80% over traditional school breakfast at the middle school.

VINALHAVEN SCHOOL

• Formed a nutrition committee representing a diverse cross-section of the school community.
• Participated in:
  1. Jump rope for heart: theme "Put a rainbow on your plate"
  2. Dental Care Day: theme "the world is full of dips"
  3. Elementary Field Day: introducing the new food guide pyramid
  4. Teacher Appreciation Week: staff wellness luncheon
  5. Cultural Celebrations from around the world: theme "the world breaks bread together"

• Created their own events:
  1. 5 A Day month: balloons, tasters, pamphlets
  2. 3-A-Day month: smoothies and got milk? display
  3. Great Global Grains wall display

WATERVILLE

• Free breakfast program for ALL 4th and 5th grade students
• Formed a youth advocacy program, at the high school, named the Mixed Nuts, to advocate for healthier nutritious options and to educate their peers
• Participates in Maine-ly Nutrition nutrition education program
• High School uses milk in 10-ounce plastic bottles, also known as the New Look of School Milk
• Have milk vending machines