Elementary schools honored
The Madison City School System is the only school system in the nation to have all of its elementary schools achieve the award.
“ I would like to say, on a personal note, as a child nutrition director, I would like to thank the entire staff and administrators, the wellness teams and my staff in child nutrition program,” Marty Tatara, the Supervisor of the Child Nutrition Program for Madison City Schools, said. “And I would like for them to know from the bottom of heart how proud I am of you for achieving this goal.”
The first place overall winner was Nour Qushair, a fifth grader from Heritage Elementary; the second place winner was Casey Campbell; a sixth grader at Columbia Elementary; and the third place winner was Michelle Abreo; a fifth grader from Columbia as well. The winners were presented with a certificate and savings bonds.
The USDA started the nutrition program to help combat the increasing obesity rate in children and felt that schools should help students learn to make healthy eating choices and live an active lifestyle.
On hand for the banquet, which was catered with healthy food choices, were Kate Houston, Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, Donald Arnette, the Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, and Perry Fulton from the Alabama Department of Education.
Tatara said child nutrition is a system wide effort and the support from all of the people involved showed how much they care for the children.
