The Taylorville Memorial Hospital Foundation provided a grant to St. Mary School to encourage students to increase their physical activity and make healthy food choices.

The Coordinated Approach To Child Health (CATCH) program is an evidence-based school health program, which promotes behavior changes in children that can last for their lifetimes.

The $7,000 grant paid for the CATCH program curriculum, PE equipment and coordinated materials for the school’s students, from preschool to sixth-grade. CATCH will also be taught to the students in St Mary’s aftercare program.

“We are excited to bring this practical and amazing program to St. Mary’s,” said the foundation’s executive director, Raedena Ryan. “We look forward to continuing our partnership in CATCH to establish healthy habits in children.”

The official CATCH launch and training to the school’s staff was held on Thursday, May 30 at St. Mary’s.

“We are thrilled to begin the next school year with the CATCH program here at St. Mary’s,” said St. Mary School principal, Cathy Robertson. “In everything we do, we aim for what is best for our kids.  We know this will lead to long-term health for life.”

Implementation of the CATCH program grew out of the 2015 community health needs assessment conducted by Taylorville Memorial Hospital and the Christian County Health Department.