O.C. flexes principal’s plan

Newport Heights Elementary School principal Kurt Suhr cashed in on his innovation Thursday, when he gladly accepted a $10,000 check on the school’s behalf from the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Back in September, Suhr was given the Gold Medal from the governor’s council for the innovative Coordinated Approach To Child Health program. The council officially handed over the check Thursday morning.

While Suhr credits a colleague in Texas for the program, in California it has only taken off since its implementation at Newport Heights.

The governor’s council says Suhr’s program has spread to more than 600 classrooms and 100 after-school programs across Orange County. Suhr said he plans to use the $10,000 to continue funding his physical fitness program.

The program runs on four tenets: focused physical education in smaller groups, getting all kids involved in the activities, giving kids a proper nutritional education to take home and only having healthy food choices available at school.

— Joseph Serna