CATCH Champion for February 2007

An interview with Gina Maranto-Castro

CATCH Coordinator-Harlandale ISD San Antonio, Texas

When did you and your district adopt the CATCH Program and what prompted you to do so?

Harlandale ISD began with 5 schools in the 1999-2000 school year. By 2002-2003 the remaining 9 schools began to implement CATCH.

Several factors contributed to the importance of a truly coordinated school health program such as CATCH. The first factor was the passing of my husband who was Hispanic and understanding firsthand how Diabetes impacts a person and a family. My 5-year-old son could inherit the disease at any time.

The second factor is teaching in a school district that is approximately 95% Hispanic. I knew that obesity among our students was on the rise in comparison to when I started teaching in Harlandale in 1984. I knew as a district and as a community that our children depended on us being proactive.

Describe notable changes since implementing CATCH and how you know CATCH is working.

Physical Education classes are different and more active. Students are having fun. I can walk into any physical education class and see that CATCH has the students moving, learning skills, and enjoying exercise as they work hard to meet their goals. The CATCH PE materials provide teachers a big library of activities to supplement what they are already doing. Students are not bored with the same activities week after week.

Parents are getting involved in fitness activities after school with their kids. We participate in the “Go Kids Challenge” sponsored by the San Antonio Sports Foundation, which provides a marathon walk with the support of parents. Students walk with their families and get prizes for doing so. Once the marathon is over we have noticed most families continue the good habit of walking.

Our nurse facilitator has reported a drop in the incidences of Acanthosis in our 5th grade students. These same students have been in the CATCH Program for most of their elementary years.

The cafeteria has added more fresh fruit. We allow our students to take a total of 3 fresh fruits and vegetables for lunch. There are usually 2 different vegetables and 3 fruit items to choose from.

In most schools, nutrition classes are being taught to K-5 students by classroom teachers.

What are the keys to your success?

Developing Infrastructure Support – This is not an individual effort. Generating support from district administration, health services, food services and local campuses and collaborating together has been the key to our CATCH success. It takes everyone pulling in the same direction and I knew we were making progress when the district funded my current position as CATCH Facilitator, the first district in the state of Texas to designate such a position.

Personally, this would not have happened without the PERSISTENCE to keep coordinating CATCH into everything I do. VISIBILITY – making myself visible at district activities and seeking out opportunities to highlight our efforts. LOVE – I love what I do and love our students.

What advice can you offer for those just beginning and for those who have already implemented the CATCH Program.

Keep trucking! Start with reasonable goals, take stock of the assets that currently exist within the district, celebrate small successes, and always keep the final vision in mind – the health and wellness of students.

What was your most significant barrier and how did you overcome the challenge?

Convincing administrators that student health is instrumental to success in the classroom. In order to accomplish this, I made every effort to attend principal meetings, meet with administrators in person, and provide them with most current data and information.

What has been the reaction from parents, administration, students and community?

The feedback from parents is overwhelming. They are so happy we are educating their children in PE, providing nutrition information in the classroom and serving foods in the cafeteria that have reduced fat, sodium and sugar. Administrators, always wishing there was more time in the day to do more, have accommodated efforts to regularly weave CATCH instruction into the school day. Students seem happier and the community is very complimentary and continually offers support.

What are your plans for the future? What is your CATCH vision?

We plan to train more administrators, nurses and classroom teachers. Training is a key to the buy-in of coordinated school health. Everyone in the school needs to work together to provide consistent information to students and families.

Anything else you would like to add?

The Harlandale family is very grateful for the opportunities that have been given to our children since we have chosen to implement CATCH. We are proud to be a CATCH District and thank all those who have supported us on our health journey.

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