The Blue Point School was selected by Scarborough Wellness as the first recipient of its “Wellie” award for the school’s work in helping promote student health.

The award is given to an organization or individual that has made a significant contribution to promoting health in the town during the previous year.

Scarborough Wellness, a community organization that promotes healthy lifestyles, recognized the work of school staff, Principal Sue Helms, and the members of the Nutrition Committee for their work this year. The committee organized a variety of creative and energizing activities during the year that promote healthy eating and physical activities for students.

This year, the school is holding school-wide assemblies designed to teach students about healthy ways to eat. The assemblies focused on three areas: “Fresh Fall”, “Wintery Mix” and “Colorful Spring.” Teachers provided students with the opportunities to try different foods during class as part of the program.

The school also has instituted a “Mileage Club” that recognizes and rewards children for completing physical activity in school and during recess.

Rather than holding traditional birthday parties in class, the school is now offering monthly birthday celebrations for students whose birthdays fall into that month. These parties occur during lunch and students spend the period together and during that time, they have the chance to try healthy foods.

On Wednesday, the school held a celebration for the students with January birthdays and the kids were given a choice of yogurt that could be mixed with a variety of fruit such as strawberries, apples and cherries. There also was granola available.

Teachers say that so far the program has been a success and they have noticed a change in the types of snacks students are bringing to school. A teacher noted that last week, one student even brought in a salad.

Skyler Paige and Cameron Scribner taking some fruit at the Blue Point SchoolBlue Point School students Maya Odlin, Natalie Taylor and Liley Nygren putting some fruit into yogurt on Wednesday. Maya Odlin in front a bowl of strawberries at the4 Blue Point School Wednesday. The school is celebrating studentGrace Shaffer and Patrick Stanley taking some healthy snack from a table during Blue Point School