Schools

Georgia Tech Works with Chattahoochee Elementary School on HIVE Program

HIVE (Health Integration via Education) is a program that aims to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity by using elementary schools to promote healthier lifestyles.

City of Duluth press release

Last summer, students from Georgia Tech seeking guidance in implementing a health education program in a local elementary school reached out to the Mayor of Duluth, Nancy Harris.

HIVE (Health Integration via Education), a program developed by these Georgia Tech students, aims to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity by using elementary schools to promote healthier lifestyles. Hoping to implement this program the following spring, the students worked with Mayor Nancy Harris who then connected the Tech students to the administrative staff of Chattahoochee Elementary School and Assistant Principal Sheldon Jefferson.

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Since January, the team has gone into Chattahoochee Elementary School and provided weekly interactive health activities and lessons to Mrs. Ross' 4th grade class.

The program covered a range of topics, including diseases, the importance of physical activity, and identifying and exploring nutritious foods. HIVE also incorporated an online pedometer tool that allows students to upload their pedometers into a website to track their progress and collect rewards for their activity.

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With several weeks of the program still left, the results of the program thus far have been outstanding. Seeing a tremendous increase in the average active minutes per student, the team is equally excited to continue the final weeks of the program. 

Over the past few weeks the Mrs. Ross’ students have been working in teams to create a creative project addressing one of the main concepts presented by the HIVE lessons. The program will culminate in a health fair, in which students from Mrs. Ross' class will present their final projects to kindergarten classes at Chattahoochee. 

So far, the program has received excellent remarks from the faculty, students, and parents. Fourth grade teacher Mrs. Ross says, "the HIVE program has been implemented very well in my classroom. The students are enthusiastic about learning and seem to be using the knowledge learned in the lessons". 

The team is excited to see where the future is going to take them.

For more information please contact Sheldon Jefferson at 770-497-9907 or Sheldon_Jefferson@Gwinnett.k12.ga.us.


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