The principal of Arnett Elementary School contacted the Nutrition Education Program (NEP) Assistant from the Kenton County Cooperative Extension Service about offering a nutrition program for the elementary students at the school.  They had partnered together before, so the principal understood the value of the program for the students. Over 90% of the students at Arnett are eligible for free breakfast and lunch. 

The NEP Assistant contacted the interested teachers to set up the series. She went to two first grade classes once a week to teach LEAP for Health (Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Preschoolers/Primary) to 37 students.  During each lesson, the Assistant read a book to the students about eating healthy, fighting germs, or getting more physically active.  She led activities to reinforce the learning and served a healthy snack to the class.  Some of the children discovered a new food they liked after they tried it for the first time.

One of the first grade teachers said, “I have never heard of this program before, but it is wonderful.  It teaches the students about how they can be healthier, and it makes it fun. Thank you for coming to my classroom! I hope you will come again next year.” Not only did the students have fun while trying new foods, they learned to make healthy choices.  According to a national web based reporting system (WebNEERS) out of the 28 students who responded to the ending survey, 37% improved in being able to identify physical activity; over 40% of the youth learned to recognize vegetables and dairy products; and 48% learned to identify when they should wash their hands.

Although the students completed the series before the pandemic began, the NEP Assistant continued to partner with the teachers at Arnett Elementary.  She sent Chop Chop newsletters and Healthy at Home newsletters electronically for the teachers to share with their students who were completing first grade at home.  Plans are being made to offer the program virtually during the upcoming school year.