(Submitted photo/Northwest District School Board)

By Nicole Reis

Mosaic Extreme School Makeover Challenge 2020

Extreme School Makeover Challenge addresses a growing need for student nutrition

Mar 5, 2020 | 5:31 PM

The Northwest District School Board is inviting school staff and students to get involved in the Mosaic Extreme School Makeover Challenge.

The challenge is a contest which encourages grassroots initiatives to promote student nutrition and healthier school environments through nutrition-related activities and programming.

Shawn Davidson, president of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) told meadowlakeNOW, over the last 14 years, the program provided nearly $500,000 dollars in cash prizes issued to schools who brought forward their student nutrition programs.

“There is certainly a percentage of our population who come to school hungry, to be quite frank, these programs are helpful in addressing that need,” he said.

The Mosaic Company in partnership with the SSBA are looking for school staff to explain a current school nutrition environment and improvement plans for the upcoming school year.

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Glaslyn Central School was last year’s winner and received a $10,000 award. Their primary goal was to implement a new snack program and purchase key pieces of equipment to allow staff to facilitate the snack program. Their initiative also provides nutrition education, focusing on Indigenous culture and teaching through elders.

Davidson said a committee will consider all applications and awards will be issued to 10 schools around the province from The Mosaic Company to support school nutrition initiatives.

Over the course of 14 years, The Mosaic Company has issued awards to 63 schools in 38 communities throughout the province.

(Submitted photo/Saskatchewan School Boards Association)

“We all know if you’ve got an empty belly, it’s difficult to learn,” he said.

Davidson encouraged applications from local school divisions to assist students who have nutritional needs, having a positive impact on their learning.

In 2016, Lakeview Elementary School won the $10,000 prize for their successful application submitted by their activities coordinator, Brenda Pollock.

Pollock, who likes to be called “The Lunch Lady” used awarded funds to expand the school’s unused locker room into a breakfast room for young students and purchased appliances and furniture for the space. Pollock also runs a baking club which teaches kids how to bake from scratch.

“We have an increasing need for kids needing breakfast and lunch,” she said. ”When I first started working here, I would make maybe a half dozen lunches and we wouldn’t need all of them. Now, it’s 20-25 students needing breakfast or lunch every day,” she said.

In order for an application to be eligible, makeover plans must include a nutrition component. New programs and projects or enhancements to successful existing programs are considered eligible.

The application to submit can be found here. Application deadline is Mar. 31.

Cash award recipients will be notified of their status in May. Participants not selected for a cash award will receive a Certificate of Recognition along with notification of their status in June.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722