Fall River Office

Brick by Brick:

Building a solid base for kids with MyPyramid

“It’s a win-win for all of us.”

 

Kids grow up fast, but NEP’s My Pyramid curriculum in New Bedford, Fall River, and Taunton has grown up right alongside them. Today, what started as a basic, six-lesson nutrition education program for second graders has become a critical and significant part of the school year for children in kindergarten, first, second, and in some cases third grades, in response to requests from the public school teachers and principals who have witnessed the program’s impact.

“The teachers felt it was incredibly important to have this time in the classroom, as well as information to go home to parents” says program supervisor Pat Bebo.  Today, the ten NEP staff members at the Fall River office work in almost every public elementary school in the 3 school districts, reaching a total of 8,000 children and adults each year.

But beyond their regular lessons, Bebo and her staff are working to change the entire school environment around health and nutrition. That includes coordinating with school food service to give students information on the fruits and vegetable they’re served and also providing newsletters and recipes for kids to take home to parents. New this year is a commitment from every school principal to read a health-based “tip of the day,” developed by NEP’s Jean Anliker, as part of the daily announcements. And future goals include regular “fitness breaks” and healthier school fundraisers.

Teachers are witnessing the results. They report that kids are beginning to bring in healthier snacks and that they’re talking about the nutritional quality of the foods they’re served at school. Perhaps most significantly, parent feedback indicates that their children are “becoming the change agents in their homes,” says Bebo, asking for skim milk in place of whole, water instead of soda, and reading nutrition labels in grocery stores to help their parents make healthier choices.

In the three communities where nearly two thirds of the schoolchildren receive free or reduced lunch, that goes a long way toward helping families get the most out of their food dollars—not to mention addressing the obesity and chronic diseases that have become epidemic among children. “As the national dialogue ramps up on these topics, schools are looking for more ways to incorporate this information,” concludes Bebo. “Having UMass Extension NEP teaching in these communities and schools is a win-win for all of us.”