Marion Elementary School nurse Kristin Garman is a recipient of a $1,000 Healthy Habits for Life grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation.

Garman is one of 42 nurses from across the state who received grants for the school to promote healthy lifestyle choices to their students.

“School nurses like Kristin should be commended for their interest in helping our kids learn healthy habits,” said Graham Bailey, CEO of the BCBS foundation.

Garman said the main portion of the grant was used to purchase GeoFitness mats for the students.

The mats are nine-square feet with a compass printed on the middle of the mat.

The students use them for aerobic-type exercise, sit-down stretch routines, or can work on hand-eye coordination by bouncing balls on or around the mat.

The school received the mats in mid-December and physical education teacher Charlotte Waner uses them in her classes.

Garman said eventually the middle and high school students also will use them.

Some of the grant money was used on playground equipment for the MES morning recess class. The remainder of the money will go toward purchasing healthy snacks for students during school-wide testing.

“Several schools state-wide are using the geo mats, and they are very enthusiastic about them,” Garman said.