Salina Post
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation has awarded Healthy Habits for Life grants to 102 Kansas schools, supporting programs that help students build lifelong healthy habits through physical activity, nutrition, heart health and positive mental well-being.
St. Mary's Grade School in Salina are among those recipients.
Principal of St. Mary's, Tym Bonilla expressed this program benefits the institution in many areas.
"The BCBS Healthy Habits for Life grant has been a tremendous blessing for our school," Bonilla said. "It allowed us to replace everyday equipment like playground balls and invest in new items such as a portable scoreboard, fitness testing tools, and activities for our younger students. These additions have brought new energy to our PE program and are helping students build healthy habits in a fun and engaging way."
The grants support school-based programs for students in K-12 and will be used to support programs that address at least one of four focus areas:
- Reducing cardiovascular risk.
- Increasing physical activity.
- Encouraging healthy eating habits.
- Reinforcing positive mental health among students.
“Healthy Habits for Life grants are an investment in Kansas students and the communities they call home,” said Marlou Wegener, Chief Operating Officer of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation. “By supporting schools, we’re helping students build healthy habits that can last a lifetime.”
This year’s recipients include 91 public schools and 11 private schools, reflecting the Foundation’s continued commitment to supporting student wellness in communities across the state.
Since the program began, Healthy Habits for Life has awarded thousands of grants to schools across Kansas, helping educators bring wellness programs directly to students where they spend much of their day — at school.
Full List of Schools:
USD 102 Cimarron-Ensign Jr/Sr High School
USD 103 Cheylin Elementary School
USD 207 Eisenhower Elementary School
USD 214 Ulysses High School
USD 218 Point Rock Alternative Learning Center
USD 234 Fort Scott Middle School
USD 234 Fort Scott Preschool Center
USD 235 West Bourbon Elementary School
USD 243 Lebo High School
USD 247 Souteast Elementary School
USD 250 Pittsburg Community MIddle School
USD 253 Emporia Middle School
USD 253 William Allen White Elementary
USD 257 Iola Elementary School
USD 257 Iola High School
USD 257 Iola Middle School
USD 259 Caldwell Elementary School
USD 259 Coleman Middle School
USD 259 Kensler Elementary School
USD 259 Marshall Middle School
USD 259 Northeast Magnet High School
USD 259 Wichita High School East
USD 260 Derby High School
USD 273 Beloit Jr Sr High School
USD 283 Elk Valley Elementary
USD 283 Elk Valley Jr/Sr High School
USD 288 Central Heights Middle School
USD 298 Lincoln Elementary School
USD 311 Pretty Prairie Elementary
USD 311 Pretty Prairie High School
USD 311 Pretty Prairie Middle School
USD 312 Haven Grade School
USD 313 Buhler Grade School
USD 320 West Elementary School
Healthy Habits for Life List of Grantees
USD 321 St. Marys Grade School
USD 323 St. George Elementary School
USD 329 Wabaunsee Junior High School
USD 330 Mission Valley Elementary School
USD 335 Jackson Heights Middle/High School
USD 336 Holton Middle School
USD 337 Royal Valley Middle School
USD 340 Jefferson West Elementary
USD 340 Jefferson West Middle School
USD 343 Perry Public Schools
USD 345 Elmont Elementary School
USD 345 Northern Hills Elementary
USD 346 Jayhawk Linn Elementary
USD 346 Jayhawk Linn High School
USD 366 Yates Center Elementary School
USD 369 Burrton Schools
USD 372 Silver Lake Elementary
USD 373 Slate Creek Elementary
USD 387 Altoona-Midway Middle/High School
USD 402 Augusta Middle School
USD 408 Marion High School
USD 408 Marion Middle School
USD 410 Hillsboro Middle High School
USD 413 Chanute Elementary School
USD 416 Louisburg Middle School
USD 423 Moundridge Elementary School
USD 430 Everest Middle School
USD 434 Overbrook Attendance Center
USD 434 Santa Fe Trail High School
USD 434 Scranton Attendance Center
USD 436 Lincoln Memorial Elementary
USD 437 Auburn Elementary School
USD 446 Independence High School
USD 450 Shawnee Heights High School
USD 450 Shawnee Heights Middle School
USD 450 Tecumseh North Elementary
USD 454 Burlingame Elementary School
USD 457 Charles Stone Intermediate Center
USD 458 Basehor Intermediate School
USD 461 Neodesha Early Learning Center
USD 461 Neodesha High School
USD 461 North Lawn Elementary
USD 464 Tonganoxie Elementary School
USD 464 Tonganoxie High School
USD 464 Tonganoxie Middle School
USD 467 Wichita County Elementary School
USD 475 Spring Valley Elementary School
USD 491 Eudora Middle School
USD 493 Columbus Jr Sr High School
USD 495 Larned High School
USD 497 Hillcrest Elementary
USD 497 Langston Hughes Elementary School
USD 501 Eisenhower Middle School
USD 501 State Street Elementary
USD 501 Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet Elementary School
USD 609 Southeast Kansas Education Service Center- Project PLUS, Topeka
USD 609 Southeast Kansas Education Service Center- Special Purpose School, Parsons
Cair Paravel Latin School
Heritage Christian School
Most Pure Heart of Mary School
St. Anne Catholic School
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School
St. Cecilia Catholic School
St. Mary's Grade School (Ellis)
*St. Mary's Grade School (Salina)*
St. Peter Catholic School (Schulte)
The Independent School
Topeka Collegiate School