Children who are properly nourished, well-hydrated, and physically active perform better in school. On October 28, 2016, Mayor Kenney visited Cramp Elementary, one of the city’s first nine community schools, to learn about its unique wellness programs available for Cramp’s students and families.

Mayor Kenney was greeted by Principal Logan, Community Schools Coordinator William Fewer Reed, Healthy Schools Coordinator Yadira Curet, and Cramp’s own Boy Scouts troop. Yadira, a former recreation center leader at Feltonville Recreation Center, shared the work she’s been doing to build a strong partnership between Cramp and Schmidt Playground, a nearby recreation center.

The Mayor got to check out some of the fresh produce parents can pick-up at the school through Farm to Families, a community shared agriculture (CSA) program run by St. Christopher’s Hospital. He also helped students fill up their water bottles in the cafeteria’s new state-of-the-art hydration station, which has already filled more than 2,000 bottles of water for students and faculty members.

Students then led Mayor Kenney to the newly renovated school yard where Playworks, an AmeriCorps program, hosted a recess dance party and football game. Cramp is one of 21 local schools who partners with Playworks to offer fun, safe, and inclusive recess activities for all students. This program strives to make recess a healthy, integral part of the school day, so students carry a positive recess experience with them beyond the playground.

Before leaving the school, Mayor Kenney was interviewed by fifth-grade Healthy Newsworks student reporters. Health and education topped their list of pressing questions.

Cramp Elementary matched their warm welcome with a fond farewell, sending the mayor off with hand decorated goodie bags filled with healthy snacks.

Learn about other ways we’re working with the Department of Public Health to integrate preventive health practices in our community schools and follow #HealthySchoolsPHL on Facebook and Twitter.