Each year Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation awards one public school in Mississippi the title of “The Healthiest School.” This award recognizes the efforts of the school in creating and maintaining healthy school environments, as well as assisting the school to improve overall health and wellness efforts. Poplarville Lower Elementary School is honored to be named “The Healthiest School” for 2019 and will use the $50,000 grant monies to add both regular and adaptive play equipment to the playground to encourage physical activity for all students.
“The Poplarville Lower Elementary Health Council worked very hard to submit the grant application. The application highlights all the great things our faculty, staff, and students do every day to promote health and wellness. We would like to thank our community partners that serve on the School Health Council for helping to make PLE the healthiest school.” states Michelle Recatto, RN BSN NCSN, PLE Nurse and Health Council Coordinator.
The PLE School Health Council consists not only of representatives within the school district but also from PRCC Wellness Center, Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home, Mississippi State Extension Office and the Poplarville Board of Alderman.
Last year, Poplarville Lower Elementary was named one of two Mississippi “Healthy School” by Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation. The award of $25,000 allowed the Poplarville Lower Elementary Health Council to purchase equipment for a faculty and staff workout room, continue the Fresh Fruit Friday program, and to create a health curriculum cart for students and teachers to have hands-on experiences.