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Townsend Schools Receive Nat'l Health Award

By Mike Cronin

Story Created: Feb 7, 2012 at 8:15 PM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 7, 2012 at 8:16 PM MDT

School lunch has come a long way at Townsend Public Schools.

Shelley Dempsey, Townsend Elementary Principal, says, “When we were young, we’d go through the line, and you’d get one thing, and if you didn’t like it, well that was too bad. The kids can actually choose what the main course is, they can choose which fruit they want.”

Vicki Thomason, Food Service Director, says, “We make sure they’re eating. They’re getting their protein and their vegetables, and they seem to like it because there’s not too much waste anymore.”

Last month, Townsend Elementary and Middle Schools earned Silver awards in the National Healthier US School Challenge Program, which honors schools that promote healthier environments.

Brad Racht, Townsend Middle School Principal, comments, “We see an increase in student morale, student performance because the kids are well fed, they have a lot of choices; they feel like they’re empowered a little bit because they have several choices to make at lunch, and it’s just a really positive situation for our school.”

Townsend is only 1 of 9 Montana schools to receive the award since 2006.

“They’ve gone really to a higher level of not only just providing a good food service program, but they’re incorporating exercise into their program,” says Dennis Parman, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction.

“You know, try to educate them and enlighten them to what life has to offer; that you aren’t just in here running laps, doing pushups, sit-ups; the boring stuff. Move on and open the doors to your world and see all the things that you can do to keep yourself fit,” says Vicki Harvey, Health Enhancement Teacher.

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