Frontier Local Schools unveils School Wellness Zone
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NEW MATAMORAS - Frontier High School unveiled its School Wellness Zone, completed through the support of the Creating Healthy Communities Grant through the Washington County Health Department, Amber Brookover; paraprofessional special education aid at Frontier High School, and community support on Friday morning.
Mary Barnes, project director for the Creating Healthy Communities Grant with the Washington County Health Department, said the grant focuses on healthy eating and active living within communities. She said her focus had turned to New Matamoras for projects because "New Matamoras is generally an underserved area, so it's an area in our community that has needed that type of attention."
Brookover had been seeking grants for outdoor equipment for the school and connected with Barnes. Brookover said her goal was to have a space for the students to play outside and get exercise during the day.
Barnes said the Creating Healthy Communities Grant facilitates what communities need and gathered community input from students and staff twice to "know what they would like to see."
The project included renovating the basketball court, and building a volleyball and pickleball court, and seating areas. Students also participated in the building of a gaga ball pit, something the students had requested in their surveys.
Brookover said the students have taken an active role in maintaining the outdoor spaces.
"I have kids that go out and put the umbrellas up every day, and some that put them down. I have a kid that makes sure the equipment gets put away. If we need things, leaf blowing, trash taken out there. I mean, the kids are just all on board with helping," she said.
Brookover stated she has noticed a change in the students, "they’ve got some of their energy out and they’re more focused, and they can sit down and focus on school."
Brookover noted the amount of support the project received from the community and how her vision had changed and impacted the community. She said her goal was to create a space for students to find connections and be active and communicate face-to-face something made possible by the community involvement and support.
"When the kids are out there, it’s so nice to look out and see a sea of kids playing, laughing, and not having a device in their hand, that to me is huge these days," she said, "I think (the project showed) we are a small, tiny school, but we’re mighty when it comes to having people come together to help. You know, it’s a great community when you need something. People show up, they help, they support it," she said.