SEARCY — KC Koala went back to school last week to help third-graders in the Searcy Public Schools get excited about being, and staying, healthy.
KC, the mascot for Unity Health-White County Medical Center, led approximately 125 students at McRae Elementary School in various activities Tuesday as representatives from the local hospital and school district kicked off the Unity Health Kids Ambassador Program.
Anna Brumfield, Unity Health marketing coordinator and spokeswoman for the Kids Ambassador Program, said this is the second year the medical facility has sponsored this program in the Searcy School District at McRae, Westside and Sidney Deener elementary schools and at Harding Academy.
“This year, we have also reached out to the public schools in Newport, Heber Springs, Bradford and Beebe, and are in the process of offering ‘Unity Kids’ in those locations as well,” she said, adding that the program is unique to Unity Health.
She said each school receives posters promoting healthy lifestyles — “Play Every Day” and “Eat Healthy” — that can be placed at various locations in the school buildings.
“Students also receive a T-shirt designating them a ‘Unity Kid,’” Brumfield said.
“He or she will get a chance to be an Ambassador for the Week in the classroom by reading a healthy tip to the students,” she said, noting that the tips concern nutrition, hygiene, safety, exercise and mental health. “Then at the end of the year, each student will write a health-centered essay that tells what they have learned about health throughout the year.”
Brumfield said each school that completes the program could receive a Unity Kids grant worth up to $3,000 that can be used for health-centered items, such as playground or physical-education equipment, nutrition programs or healthy snacks.
Jim Gurchiek, principal at McRae Elementary School, said his school participated last year and received the $3,000 grant.
“We ordered some new playground equipment, as well as some equipment for the gym,” he said. “This program is not just about getting new playground equipment; it teaches kids to be healthy, to be physically active and to eat the right food. It’s about making good healthy choices all around.”
Tammie Rhodes, one of the third-grade teachers at McRae Elementary, said she thinks the Unity Kids program is excellent.
“It allows us to talk about health every day. It allows the kids to take ownership. It allows them to think about what they are doing; it makes them more accountable,” she said.
“We practice it all year long,” said Rhodes, who on Tuesday accompanied her class of about 25 students to the kickoff program. “Then at the end of the year, they have to write an essay, on the computer, about the program and what they have learned. It’s a great program.”
Other third-grade teachers at McRae Elementary who attended Tuesday’s assembly with their students are Blakely Howell, Kristi Smith, Shelley Faulkner and Christyn Henderson.
Betsy Bailey, school/community coordinator for the Searcy Public Schools, said similar kickoff programs were to have been held at elementary schools Westside on Thursday and Sidney Deener on Friday.
Brooke Pryor, Unity Health director of marketing, said there has been good feedback on the program.
“You never know if a program is working or not. We had a booth last year at the White County Fair, and a child came up to me and said, ‘I’m a Unity Kid,’ Pryor said. “That was pretty neat. That showed us this program is working.
“Parents can get a car decal, too, that says, ‘My kid is a Unity Kid.’ That’s positive reinforcement. … It gets the parents involved, too,” Pryor said.
“We did a survey, gauged on the kids going home and talking about the program,” she said. “We received very good results.
“As a health care provider, we serve eight counties in the area. We just felt like this topic — childhood obesity and its prevention — was something we needed to address. It’s become a mission for us to fulfill.”