News Release
September 25, 2008
Healthy-eating play takes center stage at elementary school
Shannon Kinoshita
(808) 952-7989
shannon_kinoshita@hmsa.com
A play about good nutrition took center stage today, as a group of students at Kaahumanu
Elementary School performed the musical, “You are What You Eat.” The
musical is a collaboration between the Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA)
and the Alliance for Drama Education (ADE) based on HMSA’s eat healthy
Campaign.
“You are What You Eat” uses song, dance and drama to explore the many
food choices children face each day. Through their rehearsals and performance, students
learn about the benefits of proper nutrition in a creative and fun way.
Over the past eight days, a professional artist-educator from ADE completed a teaching
residency at Kaahumanu Elementary. Artist-educators led students in theater exercises
and rehearsals to help increase drama appreciation in the classroom, as well as
raise awareness of healthy eating choices. The artist-educator and students’
work culminated in today’s school performance for classmates, teachers and
parents.
Besides Kaahumanu Elementary, ADE artist-educators are partnering with other schools
on Oahu to work with students (4th or 5th graders). HMSA and
ADE will also distribute a workbook and DVD of the performance to Neighbor Island
schools.
ADE is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to stimulate, develop and refine youngsters’
cognitive and creative skills by using drama education to achieve DOE standards.
HMSA is a nonprofit, mutual benefit association founded in Hawaii in 1938. It is
governed by a community board of directors that includes representatives from health
care, business, labor, government, education, clergy, and the community at large.
HMSA is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Nationally,
HMSA and 38 other Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans provide worldwide coverage to
more than 100 million members.
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