St. Martin North Elementary wins U.S. Apple Association grant

St. Martin North Elementary School has landed the top spot in a national competition, edging out 275 other schools across the nation for a $10,000 grant.
Students at St. Martin North Elementary showed off some fancy footwork and they have plenty of reason to dance and sing. Principal Dr. Lisa Suarez said, “We’re so excited to receive a check for $10,000 from a grant I applied for about six months ago. Out of 275 schools, our school won a $10,000 grant to provide health snacks for our babies here. We’re so excited.”
Dr. Suarez is all too aware these students will face a lot of decisions throughout their lives. She plans to put the money to good use and hopes to plant some seeds when it comes to making healthy choices as these little ones continue to grow. U.S. Apple Association Media Relations Director Tracy Grondine said, “Hands down all of the judges on the panel sat down and just fell in love with St. Martin North. They agreed that this school was so deserving to receive this grant. The pantry she is going to put together to give kids healthy options and teach them about snacking initiatives and also the number of kids who are on a free lunch program really struck a chord. We’re really happy to help them out.”
These kids know their stuff. They know that an apple a day can keep the doctor away. Third grader Karleigh Kuhn said, “Older women who eat plenty of fruit, including apples, may have lower chance of bone fractures.”
The students also had something to give today: nutrition facts and statistics. Third grader Megan Mickelson said, “The average annual U.S. apple crop is 240 million bushels. Each bushel contains an average of 126 medium sized apples.”
What better way to celebrate sweet victory than with the fruits of their labor?