Rocky Creek Elementary School in Pascagoula, Mississippi, recently partnered with
Project Fit America and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi in an effort to get kids in the school moving and learning about the importance of being healthy, The Mississippi Press reports.
Through the partnership, the school will receive a $24,600 grant to put toward purchasing new exercise machines and
fitness equipment from
commercial playground equipment manufacturer Landscape Structures. The grant also gives them access to trainers who will teach physical education teachers new methods of exercising.
"It's a total fitness program. It addresses core muscles," principal Lance Bolen told the publication during the kickoff event. "It has a stomach crunch station, sit-up stations, an upper body station to address upper body strength and conditioning, and it also addresses the lower body station."
Not only will the 460 students of the school have access to the equipment for 45 minutes each day, but the community will also be able to get fit using the new tools after school hours, Bolen added.
Exercising and eating right is key to raising
healthy kids. According to the Let's Move! initiative, children need at least 60 minutes of daily activity. Those who can't get it in during the school day can do so at their local park or even in their backyard.