River Ridge Gets Grant To Improve Student Health

River Ridge High School has received additional funding to help improve its student body's health.

The school recently won a Georgia SHAPE School Grant, and was one of 20 schools that received the grant from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Governor’s SHAPE Initiative.

The grants are used to "improve physical activity and nutrition plans based on health-related school assessments that prioritize the schools’ needs," according to a Cherokee County School District press release. 

River Ridge will receive $3,000 in grant funding to turn one of its classrooms into a cardiovascular conditioning room for students and staff, which it hopes to open during the second semester of the 2013-14 school year.

"These grants will go a long way toward improving childhood fitness and nutrition," said Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., commissioner, Georgia Department of Public Health. "We must teach our children the importance of physical activity and the lifelong benefits of healthy eating, lessons they hopefully will carry with them throughout their lives."

The school plans to install low-impact flooring, cardiovascular exercise machines such as treadmills and stationary bikes and whiteboards and bulletin boards for instruction and information.

River Ridge staff will reach out to local gyms, faculty and others to possibly donate equipment and money to help with the project. It will also implement curriculum based on the equipment, which will also include an adaptive PE program for students with special needs. 

River Ridge's wellness team, which was created last year, will take the lead on the project, which it believes is the first step towards creating a staff-oriented program.

"We care about the health and well-being of our students and staff, as good health enables better teaching and learning, and projects like this help fulfill that mission," Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo said. "This project also offers the community a wonderful opportunity to partner with the school to improve student and staff health."

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