Students and teachers at Telstar Middle School and Telstar High School are collaborating on the GreenHouse of Telstar (G.O.T.) project to improve the health of the citizens of SAD #44 by working toward the following goals:

1) Raise money for the improvement of the Telstar Greenhouse and work with the community to make these improvements.
2) Work together to grow produce for use at the Telstar Complex - both in their greenhouse and in an outdoor school garden, which they would like to plant on school grounds in the spring.
3) Raise awareness of the importance of eating organically and locally and of supporting local farms.
4) Raise awareness and develop a partnership between SAD #44 and the Farm to School program, which is a program that brings organic produce from local farms to school cafeterias.
5) Learn about and practice using renewable energy sources to power the greenhouse and extend the Maine growing season.
6) Work together with the kitchen staff to bring local foods to the Telstar table more often.

Like all of you, the Let's Go! team has been following the press about President Obama's Executive Order establishing a Task Force on Childhood Obesity and the launch of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign. We are excited to learn about a renewed national commitment to addressing childhood obesity through a comprehensive approach that includes both governmental and private sector-partners.

Haven't had a chance to read about this initiative yet? The newly formed Task Force will make recommendations to ensure access to healthy, affordable food; increase physical activity in schools and communities; provide healthier foods in schools; and empower parents with information and tools to make good choices for their families. These goals are very similar to the goals of Let's Go!'s overall work and the work in our six settings. To reach these goals, the Task Force will develop an Interagency Action Plan to look at what exists both in the public and private sectors to make sure duplication doesn't occur, to identify gaps in research and evidence, and to look for opportunities to collaborate with public and private partners. Let's Go! has already been contacted because of an interest in learning more about our work, and the Kids CO-OP has also been in touch with the White House about the 5-2-1-0 Let's Go message.

These goals are similar to Let's Go!'s goals and it's great to have national leadership and attention on the issue of childhood obesity. Let's Go! is excited about this announcement and the national work that will follow. 

Emily Rines, MPH, CHES
Project Director