Palmer Lake Elementary School -- Home of the Panthers 
Palmer Lake Launches Healthy Classroom Food Project
Thanks to a pilot project that begins at the start of the 2009-2010 school year, several classrooms at Palmer Lake Elementary will have healthier standards for snacks and other foods provided during school-related activities.
The goals of this project are to support
academic
success by encouraging healthy eating habits in the classroom and use nonfood items as
incentives or rewards. Research has shown that there is a direct connection between
healthy
students and learning. In this case, teachers will encourage healthy foods at snack time and use a
variety of nonfood alternatives during classroom celebrations. Throughout the school year, the
project will help teachers, school staff, and
parents become more aware of how to meet the nutrition needs of our children.
Parents or guardians are asked to support the project by sending healthy snack foods to school and exploring nonfood alternatives to celebrate birthdays and holidays. The end result will be healthier kids and better academic outcomes through healthier choices and incentives.
The project is part of an ongoing School-Community Health Action Council collaboration, which works to strengthen health policies and programs in the school district. For more information, contact Julie Bocock, health services coordinator, at 763-371-7126 or bocockj@district 279.org or Deborah Istre, Hennepin County Public Health Promotion, at 612-348-3655 or deborah.istre@co.hennepin.mn.us.
Palmer Lake Receives Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Grant
Palmer Lake was awarded the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program grant. All students at Palmer Lake will receive a fruit or vegetable snack three times a week
This grant is provided through the Minnesota Department of Education with funding from the United States Department of Agriculture. The purpose of the grant is to address the creation of healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices, expanding the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience, increasing children's fruit and vegetable consumption, and making a difference in improving children's diets now and throughout their lives.
What better way to fuel success than with brain food!