By BRIANA HARRIS / Staff Writer

CALERA – Calera Elementary School was one of 28 schools statewide to receive Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama’s $10,000 Be Healthy School Grant.

On Tuesday, Aug. 30, BCBS community relations manager Jeff Adams visited the school to present the check.

The grant must be used for school-based health and wellness programs that emphasize increased exercise, nutrition education and parental involvement during the school year.

Calera Elementary physical education teacher Shawn Nash said the funds will be used to purchase nine pieces of playground equipment. All of the playground equipment will work the vestibular system, which helps with decision-making skills and the development of neuromotor connections.

The playground equipment will include straight and curved balance beams and spinning equipment.

“Spinning, balancing, jumping and climbing all help to develop the vestibular system,” Nash said. “Kids really need to be outside more doing those kind of things.”

Nash said teachers recently participated in a professional development workshop about how neuromotor connections relate to education.

“Of course it’s important for children to learn reading and math, but we strive to care for the whole child and that includes making sure they’re outside playing and getting exercise,” Calera Elementary Principal Genet Holcomb said. “We want them to be well-rounded, happy and healthy children.”

The school received half of the $10,000 grant on Aug. 30. Nash said the school will receive the second half of the check in January 2017.

Nash said she hopes to have all of the playground equipment installed by February 2017.