by Mark Weber
For the Eckville Echo

Eckville Elementary School has been recognized for efforts to provide milk to youngsters through ‘Club Moo’.
The program, which is operated by Alberta Milk, helps ensure children receive a serving of milk daily with lunch. At Eckville Elementary, students purchase ‘milk cards’ for $7.50 which are good for 10 servings.
Shannon Cameron, the school’s librarian and coordinator of the program, said parents have always been very supportive, plus Alberta Milk provides lots of incentives to boost enthusiasm for sticking with the program.
She’s been coordinating Club Moo for the past 15 years.
“There are probably about 100 or so elementary schools in Alberta that take part,” she said. “Alberta Milk sends us all the information. We just monitor how many milks our kids drink and they send us school-wide incentives such as bags of skipping ropes, soccer balls and basketballs. It’s a great thing.”
Club Moo will also give incentives for events such as special winter activities.
They’ll send the school prizes from toques to frisbees.
“They really promote this.”
She said that twice a year, school incentives for each individual student are provided as well.
Meanwhile, and not surprisingly, chocolate milk has proven the frontrunner.
“We average between 400 to 600 chocolate milks a month and probably around an average of 90 white milks each month, too.”
Cameron said it’s ideal for the students, as many don’t go home at lunchtime so otherwise could miss out on a cold, fresh serving of milk which is delivered each Wednesday from Saputo Dairy Products in Red Deer. Students also help in the ‘milk room’ by handing out the 250 mm servings to the children.
Alberta Milk research has shown that students who drink milk at lunch are more likely to meet their calcium needs, and those who are well-nourished are then more ready to learn.
“Since most elementary schools do not have cafeteria facilities, schools have to make an extra effort to deliver cold, fresh milk,” said Bethany Millgan, school promotions coordinator with Alberta Milk.
“Eckville School’s commitment to the program shows that they believe that good nutrition is important to provide to their students.”