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Regina Kelley, teacher’s assistant at Watts Elementary, teaches kids how to use their whole body by dancing the "Chicken Dance."

WATTS, OKLAHOMA - Children, in Adair County, are busy getting fit this holiday season. With help from a $27,675 diabetes prevention grant from the Cherokee Nation, children at Watts Elementary are busy learning reasons to stay healthy.

"We purchased a curriculum to be used in our classrooms", said Regina Kelley, teacher’s assistant. "We have books to use in the classrooms with story’s that fit into the days activities."

Kelley, along with other coaches at Watts Elementary, hopes to teach children about healthy eating, dangers of salt and diabetes prevention, and fun ways to stay fit.

"We could have always been a physical education class, but we could never have had the equipment and coursework without the help from the Cherokee Nation," Kelley said.

Watts Elementary implemented the Coordinated Application Towards Children’s Health (C.A.T.C.H.) program with the grant money.

"The grant has helped us tremendously," said Tony Davidson, foot ball coach and high school science teacher. "We received the Cherokee Nation grant at the same time we received another grant of the same type and we were also able to purchase fitness equipment for the community to utilize."

Schools that applied for the grant had to submit a plan for improving their existing physical activity program or starting a new one. The plan had to include a specific budget and dollar amount needed to accomplish their goal. The Cherokee Nation then distributed the grant as a form of diabetes prevention among Native American people. Schools with a high number of Native American students were given top priority in the selection process.

For more information on the Watts community fitness center, please contact Regina Kelley, phone: 918-622-6273.

Related contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org