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Photo courtesy of the School District of Pickens County

Paige Nash a student at A.R. Lewis Elementary enjoys an apple in celebration of the school’s selection Thursday as one of 34 statewide participants in the Fresh Fruit Vegetable Program.

PICKENS — A Pickens County school is among 34 throughout the state that will receive portions of an $800,000 federal grant to entice students to eat healthier snacks.

Albert R. Lewis Elementary, located in Pickens, was the only school to be recognized in Oconee, Pickens and Anderson 4 and will receive $12,574 to serve its 249 students. The program is a partnership involving the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the South Carolina Department of Education and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and uses all of the student’s senses of sound, sight, touch, smell and taste, to help develop healthier snack habits.

Participating schools demonstrated a willingness to develop nutrition education programs focused on fruits and vegetables, as well as a willingness to develop partnerships with local farmers and growers. A.R. Lewis Principal Kathy Brazinski said her school will incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into the learning process.

“Curriculum standards incorporating math, nutrition, science and reading will be applied during the school day,” Brazinski said.

Brazinski said the implementation of the grant will also extend to parents and community members. Promoting a team effort from ground to table, the community garden project will involve parents collaborating with their children in a service learning experience.

“Using the National Service Learning Model, all children will incorporate the garden experience through the five steps of service learning — need, preparation, action, reflection and celebration,” she said.

In addition, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, which is a partner of the school, will provide a fruit and vegetable stand so that students have easy access to fresh food before school and before recess.

Brazinski said the school also plans to promote healthy eating through other activities, including the highlighting of a vegetable or fruit each week during the school news program, the creation of posters by students promoting healthy eating habits and the making of healthy eating placemats by students for distribution to local restaurants.

State Department of Education officials said some of the 34 recipients also plan to use their individual allotments to provide fruit baskets inside classrooms, kiosks in hallways and other innovations.

“There are really two goals here,” state Superintendent of Education Jim Rex said. “First, we want kids to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and second, and perhaps more important in the long run, we want to give students a head start on developing healthier eating habits that will last their whole lives.”