Students to appear in commercial

Twenty-five Marion Intermediate School students were ready for their close up shots on Tuesday as a WIS-TV cameraman filmed segments of a television commercial of the group re-enacting an award-winning health and fitness project. 

The television station, Lexington Medical Center and S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control sponsor a partnership recognizing individuals or youth groups promoting the All-Health Team. Public Information Coordinator for DHEC, Joann Minder, said MIS was selected as the October winner of the awards program and the only school in the Pee Dee recognized so far. 

For being named to the All-Health Team, the students received a $500 check to expand their current health initiative project, she said, adding that the students also received t-shirts, recognition on the All-Health Team Web site, a television spot on WIS-TV in Columbia, and other All-Health Team items. MIS nurse Karen Scruggs said the school would like to continue to promote healthy activity, and bring in additional playground equipment to the spacious play area that includes a track and basketball goals. Monthly winners are also in the running for a $5,000 top prize, Minder said.

“The Fit and Healthy Project was created to encourage healthy eating and physical activity,” Scruggs said in a press release about the recognition. “The objective of the program is to implement activities that promote good dietary habits while increasing student awareness and interests in selecting healthy food choices through various activities.” Scruggs said surveys were given out to the students to collect data on their fruits and vegetable consumption. They also collected data on their daily physical activity. 

Body mass index screening data was collected at the beginning of the project and at the end of the project to measure the impact of the program. “Results from the survey will be placed on the district and school Web sites,” Scruggs said. “The students will assist with placing articles in the school newsletter and presenting at PTO meetings information to parents and the community about the importance of healthy eating and physical activity.”

The commercial was shot in various segments and locations at the school, including a student broadcast in the media center, in front of the cafeteria, a taste test, a pep squad group of girls rapping in the gym, kids running wild on the playground and everyone gathering to close it out in the main hall. Instructors Nicole Naccarato, “Teacher of the Year” Danielle Skipper, Stacye Drose, Curriculum Coordinator Patricia Atkinson, administrators Tim Felder and Sharon Crowner, Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator Kandace Bethea, Coordinator of Special Projects Darrell Jameson, and Superintendent Michael Lupo were all on hand to encourage the group of third, fourth and fifth graders. 

“This is a nice way to thank the staff and the students for doing a good job,” Atkinson said, adding that the kids always do well and was glad that state offiicals were able to acknowledge it. “We had a week to pull it together and getting prepared for what we had to do,” Atkinson said. “They’ve done a superb job and been so excited being a part of a commercial and the project as a whole,” Scruggs said, adding that everyone is excited to win the award. “They’ve done a lot of hard work and I’m really proud of them,” she said. For information about the All-Health Team, visit http://www.scdhec.gov/allhealth.