In recognition of Every Kid Healthy Week, Legends Academy recently hosted the Legends Kids Rock event in partnership with the Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) and Hebni Nutrition Consultants. The event shined a spotlight on the great efforts the school is doing to improve the health and wellness of their students, and provided an opportunity for the school to celebrate its contributions to student health and wellness.

Students rotated through five stations, two dedicated to nutrition, and three on physical activity. The kids enjoyed a hula hoop contest, jump rope station, and activity dice games. They also visited Chef Dan’s portable, a tasty station where Chef Daniel Madan and his team with the Orlando Food Service Group and Lee Wesley Restaurant prepared fresh foods, and spoke to the kids on healthy eating and trying new healthy items. The menu consisted of black lentils with mushrooms, ramps, seabeans and extra virgin olive oil; meat and cheese; proscuitto, wild boar salami, brie, and corstini. Each child left with an herb plant. The highlight of the event was an encounter with the Fresh Stop mobile farmers market with Hebni Nutrition Consultants. Taste testing of freshly made smoothies and fresh cut watermelon were enjoyed by all. Additionally, the students took home a bag of fruits and vegetables with mangos, onions, carrots, and bananas.  

“At Legends Academy, we’re working to put our students on a healthier path by hosting this wellness event and are excited to also promote our junk free zones, and school garden,” says DeSheila Rumph-Wallace,  director of teaching and learning. “We’re also taking the Every Kid Healthy Pledge to provide great information and resources to create a healthier school environment for our kids.”

Dr. Kevin Sherin, director of the Florida Department of Health in Orange County states, “We are happy to partner with Legends Academy on this event. The number one public health threat to Florida’s future is unhealthy weight. One out of three kids are now considered overweight and obese and are at risk for developing medical problems that affect their present and future health and quality of life. Our goal is to work closely with community partners to leverage existing resources to maximize reach and impact to help Florida’s children and adults make consistent, informed choices about healthy eating and active living.”

Legends Academy is a Kindergarten through 8^th grade Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) focused school located on the Hope Center West Campus in the Washington Shores community of Orlando, Florida.