Paideia Academy Wins $10K Grant from NFL Play 60

Health and wellness efforts at will be getting a boost in the near future.

The Apple Valley charter school is one of 34 schools nationwide to win a $10,000 grant in the NFL Play 60 Back to Football Friday contest, which awarded schools money for health and wellness programs based on their school's show of NFL spirit.

In addition to the grant award, Minnesota Vikings players likely will visit the school on a celebration day in December, seventh and eighth grade language arts teacher Anne Simon said. The NFL also could donate sports equipment to the school apart from the grant, she said.

More than 1,200 schools in Minnesota alone applied for a grant, according to a press release from Paideia.

Paideia's 22-student leadership elective class and Simon worked on the grant materials.

They organized a week's worth of health activities for the school, wrote essays about why health and wellness were important to the school and set up the culminating spirit day where students wore Vikings garb and other favorite sports apparel to school.

"They really came up with everything," Simon said.

Paideia's board will approve a use or uses for the money; they'll hear ideas that students and staff have developed, Simon said, which include installing a rock climbing wall in the gym and putting money toward equipment for more after-school sports clubs.

Teachers at Paideia can start their own after-school clubs, Simon said. A football club exists, as does the Play 60 club, which introduces participating students to different sports.

The grant could help buy equipment so teachers can start new sports clubs, or eventually allow students to play teams at other charter, private or public schools, she said.

Paideia has shown how it values health and wellness by switching to an organic lunch system and holding a Paideia 5K race, Simon said; students and staff also practice environmentally friendly efforts, including separating trash items and having a "green team" to monitor environmental efforts at the school.

On Thursday, Paideia will host a "get moving" family night, with activities like zumba and sports science analysis, she said.

Paideia also values a well-rounded education, including arts, sports and other activities, Simon said.

"Luckily it's something we haven't forgotten about," Simon said.