[Obesity Discussion]

Bedford schools take aim at obesity
By JIM KOZUBEK
Special to the Union Leader
6 hours, 40 minutes ago


BEDFORD As Bedford students head back to school, they may find fewer sweets and more apples and bananas on their cafeteria trays.

The Bedford School District is introducing a wellness and nutrition program that was developed in response to the national debate on nutrition and obesity, said school board member Chip McGee.

The food pyramid was revised early last year and tougher standards on nutrition will be federally mandated in coming years.

Bedford administrators say they want to be ahead of the curve, already eliminating soda from vending machines and now launching a nutrition program with healthier guidelines.

The program has several components, in fact, including education, physical activity and nutrition standards, and will be gradually engaged over the course of several years.

The school district is also introducing a digital storytelling program this year.

The program is designed for elementary school students to write stories to still photography and pictures, a format such as the one used by Ken Burns and PBS, said McGee.

"The program will use technology to help students tell stories with music and pictures, " he said. "We will give them a series of still pictures and they will write a story over the top of the film."

The program is an extension of the already successful writers workshop, and was developed largely by technology teacher Dianne Loergan who wanted to enhance the workshops with technology.

Loergan pursued and won a grant for her project and the program was born.

The writing will come first and needs to be of high quality before going to film, giving the students incentive to write the best that they can.

"I say that good writing is about exploring the developments of a single moment," said McGee. "And it is really surprising how insightful and expressive the students can be."