The Newton County School System received a General Mills Foundation grant for the benefit ofelementary students in the Newton and Rockdale County school districts.  

Grant funds will be used to help fund the monthly distribution of Kidsville News! free of charge to over 16,000 students in the two counties. Kidsville News! promotes learning, literacy, character education, and parent involvement by providing students with a newspaper that they can take home and share with their families. 

In addition to the grant received by the district, three elementary schools in Newton County alsoreceived grants from the General Mills Foundation for funding programs that promote physical fitness and good nutrition. Fairview Theme School received a grant for its “Family Fitness” program to purchase fitness equipment and cross-curricular health/nutrition programs. The main goal of the program, under the leadership of PE/Health teacher Steven Joyce, is to improve fitness and healthy eating habits, not only among Fairview’s students, but among its staff and families as well. 

Ficquett Elementary School’s PE/Health Department led by teacher Donna Harris receiving funding for its “Making Every Moment Count” program, which also aims to improve the health of students and their families by helping them identify physical activities and personal choice behaviors that promote a healthy lifestyle. Funds will be use to purchase software that promotes adults becoming more involved in the physical activity levels of their families and students being able to identify their own strengths and weaknesses and set goals for improvement. 

Middle Ridge Elementary School’s “Fitness for Everyone” program will use funding to offer moreopportunities for all children, including those with special needs, to achieve optimal levels of physical fitness. PE/Health teacher Jonathan Leonard will use part of the funds from the General Mills grant to have outdoor fitness stations installed on the school’s campus. 

At a reception held at the General Mills Covington plant on February 17, NCSS Grants Coordinator, Dr. Kathy Garber, especially thanked General Mills and the Foundation for their outstanding support of the youth of Newton County, not only through grants to the school system, but also to a number of other community organizations that provide services and additional educational opportunities for young people.