Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC Foundation funds The OrganWise Guys program to teach healthy eating to KCSD elementary students
February 1, 2012

Have you ever heard of Sid and Kid Kidney, Madame Muscle or Calci M. Bone? If you have elementary students in the Kershaw County School District, you will soon.

These characters and others are part of a new program called The OrganWise Guys aimed to address childhood obesity and funded by a grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina Foundation.

“We view this collaboration between our school district, the BCBS of SC Foundation and the OrganWise Guys team as a wonderful, healthy partnership,” said Superintendent Frank Morgan. “This will help improve the health and academic achievement of children through obesity prevention activities.”

Morgan said research shows that good nutrition improves student learning.

The OrganWise Guys Comprehensive School Program will be implemented at Doby’s Mill Elementary and Jackson School. All KCSD elementary schools will participate in the program’s Food of the Month efforts.

Elements of the comprehensive program teach children and their caregivers about the impact of healthy lifestyle and food choices and how to improve these behaviors. The program has been successful in helping students to have significant improvement with their weight, waist circumference and blood pressure. Past program participants also have had higher standardized test scores.

The Foods of the Month program teaches children and staff about the importance of eating nutrient-rich foods everyday, at school and at home. Students will receive take home materials in addition to cafeteria and classroom lessons.

For more information: Mary Anne Byrd, 432-8416 ext. 1229