Juanita Blakely Jones Elementary School kicked off their first Game On Health Fair April 24, 2019 to celebrate Every Kid Healthy Week. The health fair was a part of the Game On Grant the school received through Action for Healthy Kids. The goal of this grant is to help improve the overall health of students through promotion of physical activity and nutrition education. An estimated 250 students as well as parents were in attendance. All students received a passport that was to be stamped by each vendor as they went around the fair learning about living a healthy lifestyle. The San Bernardino County Department of Public Health held a Rethink Your Drink booth to encourage families to reduce consumption of sugar sweetened beverages. The Department of Public Health Local Oral Health Program held a booth to show students proper tooth brushing techniques and how to take care of their teeth. Loma Linda University Dental Health Clinic was also there to promote dental hygiene. The San Bernardino Superintendent of Schools held a booth to promote MyPlate and nutrition. The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners brought worms to teach about composting, UCCE Master Food Preservers sampled fruit leather, and UCCE Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program engaged students in growing from seeds. The school staff offered other booths with fun exercises including tricycle races, ring tosses and a hula hoop contest. The highlight of the afternoon was the opportunity to make a smoothie on the infamous smoothie bike. Students lined up to take turns pedaling the bike. All students were entered into a raffle for 3 bikes to encourage physical activity. Students went home with non-perishable food items provided by Tzu Chi Foundation.
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) has been working with Jones Elementary to provide a series of nutrition education classes to both students and parents. Three of the 6 families participating in both the youth and adult EFNEP program were recognized for their dedication to learning about living a healthy lifestyle at the Game On Health Fair event. The three families went home with a certificate of recognition from EFNEP and a spinning globe from the school principal.
