By BECKY SHAY Of The Gazette Staff Ponderosa Elementary has reached the gold standard for providing students healthy foods, nutrition education and physical activity. The school earned the U.S. Department of Agriculture's "Gold Award" for its programs. An all-school event celebrated the award Friday, complete with distinguished speakers, an A to Z salad bar and adults dressed in fruit and vegetable costumes. It's well known that childhood obesity is a growing problem in the United States, said Darlene Barnes, regional administrator of the USDA's Food and Nutrition Services program. The USDA's HealthierUS School Challenge is one way to combat the health issue, she said, and lauded Ponderosa and Billings School District 2 for the honor. "From a federal level, it is quite an achievement," she said. Montana Superintendent of...
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