Richard Froese
South Peace News
High Prairie School Division has been selected as one of 14 school divisions in Alberta to participate in a pilot project to improve nutrition for young students.

High Prairie Elementary School and Ecole Routhier in Falher have been identified by the board, states an HPSD news release.

“HPSD is pleased to have this opportunity to further our administrative procedure, Healthy School Communities, through the dedicated supports provided by this grant,” says Tammy Henkel, who chairs HPSD board.

Freson Bros. will be work with HPE to provide both universal and targeted nutritional supports for students.

Each division receives $250,000 to enhance existing nutrition policy and to support nutrition supplies to one K-6 school, states a government news release.

Holy Family Catholic Regional Division was also selected with St. Stephen’s School in Valleyview and Holy Family School in Grimshaw participating.

St. Andrew’s School in High Prairie is also part of that school division.

Alberta Education identified 14 school divisions to take part in the pilot, including 10 rural boards and four urban ones, based on greatest need as determined by socio-economic status data from Statistics Canada.

Targeted supports will provide meals for about 100 students at HPE per day.

Universal supports will provide healthy snack options for an additional 40 students per day.

HPSD will also be purchasing commercial kitchen equipment to facilitate and potentially expand the program.

“As part of the pilot, we were required to submit a detailed proposal to Alberta Education outlining our plans for the pilot,” Henkel says.
“Our program will follow the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth, which are designed to help schools and communities make healthy food readily available for young people, so that the healthy choice is an easy choice.”

While there are several opportunities to address health, wellness and nutrition throughout Alberta’s current curriculum, another important component of the pilot program is using the curriculum to help ensure students, teachers, parents, caregivers, and community members have the opportunity to learn more about the importance of reading food labels, choice and preparation of healthy foods, and access to Alberta’s food resources.

Results will help inform decisions regarding nutrition programs for schools across the province in 2017-18.

The program is part of the Government of Alberta’s “Future Ready” initiative that co-ordinates training from kindergarten to work so all Albertans have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in a changing economy.