“A Healthy Start for a Healthy Future” is one of CIS’ Five Basics and a part of the CIS menu of services and resources. Kids participate in Lunch Bunch groups on Health and Hygiene and Healthy Choices, the Food 4 Kids Backpack program, and groups focused on mental health. Their parents enjoy Health Fairs and Family Nights. Making Great Strides, focuses on improving nutrition and physical activity and adds the following to our health menu: a school wide health task force, an online personal health inventory (PHI), dental screenings and pediatric screenings, special events (Body Walk, Slim Good Body, Kansas Learning Center for Health, MolarDrama) and staff wellness activities. The Big Loser Club has been popular with school staff and generated weight loss competitions.

In 2007, a three-year grant from the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund added more activities for middle schools. Last year, Valley Center, Derby Middle School, and Derby 6th Grade Center participated in the project. The middle school model added an individual health improvement plan (HIP) for 50 targeted sixth graders at each project school to set goals to improve their nutrition and physical activity.

A media literacy component helped students learn about the impact of media messages on their health choices, especially in the area of soft drinks and junk food. They were also amazed to learn how photos of their favorite stars are often digitally altered. Media specialist Nicki Soice also conducted workshops for teachers to help them teach students how media affects them. A Derby Middle School counselor commented, “Nicki’s topics were engaging. I especially like the information ondigitally altering photos. To this day, I can’t help but look at the magazines at the check out stand and wonder how the pictures could have been enhanced.”

Making Great Strides Health Sites include:

United Methodist Health Ministry Fund sites:
Derby Middle School
Derby 6th Grade Center
Valley Center Middle School

Cargill Meat Solutions sites:
Holy Savior Catholic Academy
Jefferson Elementary
Cooper Elementary
Oaklawn Elementary
Lincoln Elementary
Harry Street Elementary
Prairie Elementary
Rex Elementary