Milford Middle School Gets Money

The Milford Middle School has been chosen to receive $3,896 to support its Fuel Up to Play 60 initiative, the New England Dairy & Food Council announced today. Milford Middle School was selected from among hundreds of schools across the country that applied for funding to help them jumpstart and sustain healthy nutrition and physical activity improvements. This nationwide funding program offers schools up to $4,000 to help them increase awareness of and access to nutrient-rich foods and physical activity opportunities for students. Funding for this program is provided by New England Dairy & Food Council and the dairy farmers of New Hampshire.

Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60 provides support for a variety of activities and tools, such as foodservice materials and equipment, nutrition and physical education materials, student and staff incentives, staff development and overall Fuel Up to Play 60 implementation.

Milford Middle School will use the funds to add a refrigerated food bar to the cafeteria to increase student access to healthy food choices at breakfast and lunch. Funds will also be used to purchase stability balls for use in Health and Physical Education classes to increase opportunities to get physical activity throughout the day.

“We are looking forward to introducing more opportunities for healthy practices by adding additional options to our gymnasium and school cafeteria,” said Fuel UP to Play 60 Program Advisor and School Nurse Gail Puzas.

Students will help staff promote these new approaches by making posters, contributing to morning announcements and events in an effort to help keep the momentum going with their peers.

“I love that students are driving these ideas and helping to create healthy changes for their peers. Milford Middle School has a lot of great support from all students, but our Fuel UP to Play 60 team is leading the charge,” said Fuel Up to Play 60 Program Advisor and Health Teacher Ashley Blake. The student teams are co-advised by faculty and meet weekly to plan activities throughout the year.

Principal DeMarco from Milford Middle School notes, “We have a great school-wide team supporting our efforts to make small but significant changes to our school wellness environment. The enthusiasm from students, staff and support from Fuel Up to Play 60 have been vital to help us meet our wellness goals.”

Nearly 74,000 schools across the United States are participating in Fuel Up to Play 60. Developed by National Dairy Council, local Dairy Councils and National Football League (NFL), in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the program encourages youth to consume nutrient-dense foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Multiple health organizations and several major corporations also support Fuel Up to Play 60.

“Fuel Up to Play 60 has really taken hold at Milford Middle School. Students and staff have done such a tremendous job coming together to create a school wellness environment through simple and practical changes,” said New England Dairy & Food Council Dietitian Becca Story.

Schools, parents and students can learn more about Fuel Up to Play 60 at FuelUpToPlay60.com. Schools can learn more about eligibility requirements, and find the Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60 application, at FuelUpToPlay60.com. There are several application windows each year, including upcoming deadlines in November 2014.

Photo Caption: New England Dairy & Food Council Registered Dietitian Rebecca Story (second from right) presents $3,896 in funding to Fuel Up to Play 60 Program Advisors at Milford Middle School: Gail Puzas, School Nurse; Ashley Blake, Health Teacher; and Principal Tony DeMarco.

Submitted text and photo.