What do you do when your school is not doing well?

This is a remarkable success story. A story about Anthony Elementary School in Leavenworth, Kansas. Through a grant from the Sunflower Foundation: Health Care For Kansans, Anthony Elementary school discovered that positive change can be brought about by proper diet, social habits, and a structured environment that sets the students and teaches up in a win-win situation. Within just a year, Math and Reading assessment scores started to improve dramatically. In just two years, Math scores at an unsatisfactory level were non existent while unsatisfactory reading scores had decreased by over 50%. Across the board, Advanced and Exemplary math and reading scores improved astronomically. THESE SCORES MEET THE KANSAS STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE KANSAS READING ASSESSMENT YEAR UNSATISFACTORY ADVANCED EXEMPLARY 2002 25.9% 0% 7.4% 2003 25% 19.4% 8.3% 2004 11.1% 33.3% 18.5% KANSAS MATHEMATICS ASSESSMENT YEAR UNSATISFACTORY ADVANCED EXEMPLARY 2002 40.5% 5.4% 2.7% 2003 27.3% 18.2% 3.0% 2004 0% 23.8% 47.6% The Eat, Exercise, Excel video was made possible by grants from The Center For The Improvement Of Human Functioning International, Wichita, Kansas, and The Wacker Foundation of Dallas, Texas.

The following video clips are © CIHFI 2004

Anthony Elementary was not known as a shining example in the Leavenworth school district. Principal Janine Kempker, explains why change was needed.
Social habits are just as important as nutritional habits at lunchtime. 1st grade teacher Emma Galloway describes the positive effects structured lunch and recess has had on her students.
Students and teachers now eat lunch together in their classrooms. 4th grade teacher Esther DeVault, talks about the positive impact this program has had on the students, teachers, and parents.
Making changes in a state school system is not easy. Principal Kempker explains how changes were implemented through the system.
Setting the children up to succeed rather than fail, makes it easier on the the children and staff. Parent/Student Liaison William Cannon Sr., tells how the program changed his way of thinking.

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