Cornerstone Center for Early Learning
Cornerstone Center for Early Learning’s focus is on physical activity and overall health for the 4th year of recertification. The children, educators and caregivers witnessed so many fantastic moments over the four years of exploring, creating and enjoying the outdoor classroom. Many aspects of the past year directed the Center’s focus on physical activity and health as we move forward.
First, according to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “Physical activity is good for children in many ways. Benefits include improved academic performance, brain health, muscular fitness, heart and lung health, cardiometabolic health, long-term health, bone strength, and measures of a healthy weight”. How can anyone ignore these benefits for all children and adults too?
Next, Cornerstone Center recently employed Chef Tim. Chef Tim balances nutrition at breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack by introducing new vegetables and fruits, creating a healthy menu from scratch and listening to feedback from the children. Even though one day the Center drools over baked salmon, steamed carrots and rice, Chef Tim financially balances the next day with a simple pasta dish accompanied with a salad and bread.
In addition to Chef Tim’s nutritious meals, Cornerstone Center partnered with ARCHS; Area Resources for Community and Human Services. From early summer through October, ARCHS delivers boxes of free produce for Cornerstone Center’s families once per week. The produce is from local farmers and its contents vary depending on the seasonal yield. At times ARCHS provides watermelons, squash, corn on the cob, peaches and on and on. Delicious and healthy foods for our families to prepare at home mirrored with the nutritional meals provided by Chef Tim during the week.
And finally, Cornerstone Center’s outdoor classroom coordinator and center director introduced movement signs in the outdoor space. The signs were created by in house educators with an artistic flare painting animal pictures instigating the movement. A movement sign may encourage children to jump like a frog, for example. The signs are colorful, understood by children and fun!
It is obvious that our focus on physical health and nutrition is important to the entire community. Cornerstone Center upholds its mission of nurturing independent young minds while supporting all families especially through physical health and nutrition. The entire community pulls together to support our children through collaboration, staffing and family engagement. Cornerstone Center for Early looks forward to the next year and another journey to enhance the outdoor environment.
