By JOSHUA THOMAS

C-S-E Editor

CANAJOHARIE — Food Services Coordinator Lauri Dahlin made a presentation during last Thursday’s Canajoharie Central School Board of Education meeting, speaking about the recently awarded Healthier U.S. School Challenge bronze award, provided to the East Hill Elementary, Canajoharie Middle and Canajoharie High Schools by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Dahlin was on hand to remind everybody “what it means” to be recognized with the bronze award, which honors excellence not only in the district’s lunch program, but also nutrition and physical education, and physical activity.

Work to obtain this award, which carried a $500 prize, along with a plaque and a banner that will be hung at the school, began a year ago. “Paperwork is quite cumbersome”, noted Dahlin, explaining that there are stringent requirements to make sure the district is in compliance with the National School Lunch Program.

The principals of each school were involved with the application process, providing curriculum information, including happenings in health classes, home and careers courses, and science units with components of nutrition education, for example.

In assessing whether the district should receive the award, physical education programs were reviewed, making sure that they’re compliant with state requirements. Recess programs were also reviewed to make sure that they incorporate adequate physical activity.

At the high school level, intramural sports were included in the application, along with notes regarding opportunities the students were offered to visit the fitness center or take fitness-related classes, such as ZUMBA.

These various pieces made up the final application, which was then submitted for a three-staged approval process that first included District Superintendent Deborah Grimshaw signing off on the application, which was then passed on to the State Education Department, who reviewed it and provided feedback. After making suggested additions or changes, the application was submitted at the federal level (which required it to pass through two more levels).

The application passed through a technical level to make sure that all necessary information was included. It was then submitted to a final panel, who Dahlin said “looks at the broad picture and decides, ‘yes, you are able to win this award.’”

25 New York State districts were provided this award, most of them receiving bronze recognition, with a few being awarded gold or silver status.

Dahlin noted that Canajoharie Central School was the only district in the immediate area to receive the award, with the rest located downstate and further west, toward Buffalo. Because most of the districts awarded were larger schools, Dahlin said she hopes that CCS can be an example to small districts, stating, “you don’t necessarily have to be the biggest district out there to be able to show that you’re having quality nutrition and physical education programs.”

A future goal, according to Dahlin, would be to move up to the silver level. The biggest difference in requirement at that level is meal participation. “It’s something that could happen. We’re always looking to increase participation,” Dahlin commented.

The $500 award will be deposited into the school’s food service fund to be used for “any allowable food expense,” including equipment. Dahlin said that while she’s not sure where the money will be spent yet, she wants to earmark it for a purchase  that will specifically show students that it’s a reward for the district’s, and for their, hard work.