Anyone familiar with starfruit knows it looks kind of wonky on the outside but turns into cool, star-shaped bites when cut up.
When Devon Forest Elementary students were introduced to the fruit in the cafeteria in November, their reactions were priceless – most of them had never seen a starfruit before.
“This is just weird…”
“Does it actually grow like this?”
However, with some coaxing from food service manager Brian Odgers, most of them were willing to put a sample of the fruit on their trays as they passed through the lunch line.
Odgers tries to offer a new fruit or vegetable to students at least once a month – sometimes more depending on availability. He has been doing these little taste tests for a few years.
Introducing the students to new fruits and vegetables is one of many things Devon Forest Elementary does to promote health and wellness among the children and adults at the school. The school was recently recognized as one of 23 South Carolina schools that was considered among the healthiest schools in the country during the 2021-2022 school year; Devon Forest came in at number eight in the state. There were 406 schools nationwide that were awarded the recognition by Alliance for a Healthier Generation, according to an article by The State.
Alliance for a Healthier Generation recognized the schools for implementing best practices in up to nine categories, such as strengthening social-emotional health and learning; cultivating staff well-being; increasing family and community engagement; improving nutrition and food access; bolstering physical education and activity; implementing local school wellness policies; enriching health education; promoting being tobacco-free; and supporting school health services.
Thanks to Devon Forest Elementary’s health and wellness committee, the school is knocking a lot of the criteria out of the park.
Odgers, who is part of the committee, has previously gotten students to try out a pluot – or “dinosaur egg” – which is an incredibly sweet-tasting hybrid of a plum and an apricot.
“When we have those in the line, kids know what they are and they attack,” Odgers said.
Odgers has a dragon fruit taste test scheduled for December (which is perfect –Devon Forest Elementary is the home of the Dragons).
“I’m really grateful district CNS really allows me…to reach out and do some of these taste tests,” Odgers said, adding, “Who walks into a grocery store and picks up a dragon fruit? Most kids would run from it. If you put it in front of them…a lot of the kids will try it.”
Students and staff stay health-conscious in a number of other ways, and any member of the school’s health and wellness committee will say it is very much a group effort.
The efforts go even beyond the school building. Devon Forest Elementary recently hosted a Fresh For All event on Nov. 15, organized by Title I Facilitator Shelly Foley. The Fresh For All program through Lowcountry Food Bank distributes fresh produce throughout the rural areas of the lowcountry through a mobile farmers’ market.
Kindergarten teacher Danielle Kot is also hoping to get families more involved in the school garden. The garden was more active before the pandemic, but the school is working hard to revitalize it. Two of the beds are blossoming flowers, attracting butterflies and bees – which the students enjoy watching.
Kot’s students most recently planted some pumpkins and gourds, but they are going to do it again in May so they will have them in time for the fall season. Kot plans to implement some radishes (Odgers previously presented radishes to students in the cafeteria).
The garden is still in its early stages for the school year, but Kot has big plans ahead when the second semester starts.
“It’s a work in progress,” she said. “It’ll be even better next semester.”
Music teacher Christie Cannon leads the school’s running club every Wednesday. Students flock to her classroom for stretches and a brief wellness huddle before they hit the pavement at full force (Devon Forest Elementary has some very focused sprinters).
The running club is not just limited to the students; P.E. teachers Shelley Mitchum and April Yohe lead the staff wellness initiatives for the school and they encourage the teachers to join in the weekly run as well. A few teachers already do some sort of workout during their lunch, and Yohe said they are trying to implement morning group exercises, like yoga or pilates, to help teachers start their Teacher Work Days off on the right foot.
The health initiatives will be ongoing when the spring semester starts.
“As we return from winter holidays, we will ramp up our drink water campaigns to encourage good hydration for staff and students,” Yohe said.