Hot Springs achieves Five to Thrive status

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and the Arkansas No Kid Hungry campaign announced earlier this month that the Hot Springs School District was one of nine Arkansas school districts to achieve Five to Thrive status.

According to a news release, Five to Thrive is a campaign, funded through a project contract from Arkansas Children’s Hospital’s Natural Wonders Innovation Fund, developed to encourage school districts across the state to offer a variety of nutrition and physical activity programming to improve student health and academic outcomes.

Districts received program implementation funds and technical assistance to implement all five program components by August. Required program components included adopting Breakfast After the Bell and the Community Eligibility Provision; serving or supporting USDA summer and after-school meal programs; hosting

Cooking Matters or similar nutrition education programs; maintaining or starting school-based pantries or weekend backpack programs; and implementing an evidence-based physical activity program such as Go Noodle or Fuel up to Play 60.

“Becoming a Five to Thrive school district shows a real commitment to the health and wellness of students and families,” said Patty Barker, Arkansas No Kid Hungry campaign director. “The Alliance and No Kid Hungry campaign are committed to providing these districts ongoing support to help expand or enhance their programs and increase meal participation levels.”

According to the release, research shows that when students have access to nutritious food where they live, learn and play, their academic outcomes are brighter. These Five to Thrive components offer a full complement of nutrition and physical activity programming to help students not only succeed but thrive.