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Commit to Be Fit report: new horticulture hire, expanded nutrition education and telehealth clinic
Summary
The board received the Commit to Be Fit annual report highlighting expanded nutrition education, staff wellness activities, new horticulture teacher Kyle Wenzel and plans to reconnect farm‑to‑table programming to cafeterias with PATH and Headwaters Foundation support.
Holly Jenkins, wellness integration coordinator for the Commit to Be Fit (C2BF) program, presented the program’s annual report on Dec. 20 and highlighted efforts to integrate nutrition education into classrooms, expand movement‑based learning, and strengthen staff wellness across Rappahannock County schools.
Jenkins described classroom integrations, the ‘grab‑and‑go’ breakfast cart at the elementary school, and a new milk dispenser at the high school. She credited funding and support from the PATH Foundation and the Headwaters Foundation and said the program added a telehealth option through Valley Health that now serves both students and staff.
Jenkins introduced the C2BF team and announced the addition of Kyle Wenzel, a horticulture‑certified teacher hired to support a K–3 outdoor elective and to help rebuild Farm‑to‑Table offerings for middle and high school. “We’re really planting the seeds for a healthier generation,” Jenkins said, describing hands‑on lessons and outdoor learning that aim to increase student interest in fruits and vegetables.
C2BF also reported a variety of staff wellness offerings — hiking outings, a staff farmers market with $40 tickets provided by the REACH initiative, pickleball and ukulele workshops — designed to reduce burnout and build social connection among staff. Jenkins said the program will pursue local procurement strategies and explore ways to grow produce that could be used in school cafeterias to both reduce costs and increase participation.
Board members praised the partnerships and noted plans to invite local media for a January announcement about an expanded Farm‑to‑Table class. Jenkins asked for continued board support and said report materials and a program booklet are available on BoardDocs and the C2BF website.
What’s next: Jenkins said C2BF will continue to expand school‑garden work, report back on local procurement plans, and coordinate any Farm‑to‑Table pilot results with the nutrition director.
