Healthy Snack Guide

Fernbank Elementary has taken on the challenge! We are enrolled in the Healthy

Schools Program which is an initiative of the Alliance For A Healthier Generation.

Our Wellness Council is assessing our health and wellness programs, and using the Healthy Schools framework to promote a healthy school environment. These snack recommendations are based on the snack guideline in the Healthy Schools Program.

Eat an Apple, Give an Apple

On Wednesday, September 21, Fernbank students ate locally grown apples in the school cafeteria as part of the new DeKalb County Farm to School program.  But that’s not all.

Students also brought an apple from home, and gave it to their PE coaches that day.  Over 700 apples were collected for children in need.  Three hundred apples were donated to children at Cook Elementary School, through Glenn Memorial Church's "Snack in a Backpack" program.  The apples were packed into 150 backpacks for children at Cook by 24 Fernbank Cub Scouts.  Great job boys!  The remaining 400 apples were donated to My Sister’s House, a women and children’s shelter in Stone Mountain.

Thank you to Fernbank families for encouraging our children to eat an apple as well as give an apple.

School Garden Fall Planting

Last week 20 classes participated in a fall planting marathon in the Fernbank school garden.  Over the course of two days, about 450 students planted kale, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, radishes,  beets, red leaf lettuce, chard, herbs and Asian greens.  Our garden beds are ready to be watered and watched as our fall crop begins to grow!

Thank you to our wonderful teachers for their enthusiasm and our fantastic parent volunteers for their time and energy.  The kids are very excited to learn that THIS is how our garden grows.

Let's Move tour stop at McNair High School

The Fernbank School Garden was invited to participate in a Let’s Move pep rally held at McNair high school last Friday, September 2.  The rally, sponsored by the Georgia School Nutrition Association, was part of a state-wide effort to embrace Michelle Obama’s national Let’s Move campaign.  http://www.gsfsa.com/ 

Press Release before the event:

'Let's Move' tour to stop at McNair High School

Sports celebrities, cheerleaders and U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson will join students at McNair High School for the “Let’s Move Fit and Fun Tour” on Sept. 2.
The 2:15 p.m. rally, which is hosted by the Georgia School Nutrition Association, will expose students to healthy food and beverage options, show them simple exercises that can be incorporated in their daily activity, and introduce them to school gardens and how to implement their own.

More pep rally photos:http://tinyurl.com/3dpql6d

As a representative of a school garden in DeKalb County, Fernbank Farm to School served an herb/goat cheese dip and a tomato salad to over 100 participants.   All the herbs and tomatoes used in the tasting were grown in our school garden by Fernbank students.  All of the rest of the ingredients were donated by Whole Foods Briarcliff.

The two delicious tasting dishes were prepared by Fernbank’s new Chef Partner, Megan McCarthy.  You might recognize Megan if you’ve participated in any of the Edible Garden Chef events at the Botanical Gardens.  In addition to her help with the Let’s Move garden tasting last week, Megan will be leading a 5^th grade Chef to School program at Fernbank this fall.  To learn more about Megan, visit www.healthyeating101.com

Congratulations to Fernbank Farm to School for spotlighting how a school garden can positively influence an elementary school to the whole county.  Thanks again to our partners, Whole Foods Briarcliff and Chef Megan McCarthy.  Thanks also to the Georgia School Nutrition Association for your interest and commitment to Farm to School.

Elementary Herb Spread

1 garlic clove

10 basil leaves

2 teaspoons fresh thyme

2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced

4 oz goat cheese

2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt

Fresh cracked pepper to taste

Blend ingredients together in food processor until desired consistency.  Serve on crackers or plain pita chips.

Watermelon Day

The first DeKalb County local produce of the month took place on Friday, August 26^th.  All DeKalb County students were served watermelon fresh from a local Georgia Farm.  At Fernbank, we declared a Watermelon Day where the PE coaches encouraged the students to wear red for watermelon. Better yet, wear red on top and green on the bottom to look like a slice of watermelon! 

 Students who bought lunch, chose the watermelon side.  Some lunchbox kids brought their own watermelon from home and others bought a side of watermelon for 75cents in the lunch line.  Everyone received a “Fernbank Farm to School” tractor stamp on their hand for participating in Watermelon Day.  The stamp was red, of course!  Don’t forget to stop by the library and take a look at the slide show of Watermelon Day.  Thanks to all who helped make it a success!