Collaborative Programs

A Real Integrated Sports Experience

Community Schools and Recreation works cooperatively with The ECU Campus Recreation and Wellness Program to support ARISE. ARISE is designed to provide persons with and without disabilities the opportunity to participate in a variety of unique sports, fitness, and recreational activities.

Pitt Alliance for Youth

In November 1997, Pitt County held the first county summit in the State of North Carolina as a part of the national campaign, “America’s Promise”. The Pitt Alliance for Youth (PAY) was formed as a community coalition to work towards the goal of seeing that every youth has access to the Five Fundamental Resources for Youth.Five Fundamental Resources for Youth:

  1. Mentor: Each youth needs an ongoing relationship with a caring adult.
  2. Protect: Each youth needs a safe place with structured activities to go to during non-school hours.
  3. Nurture: Each youth needs access to adequate health care.
  4. Teach: Each youth needs to develop marketable skills through an effective education.
  5. Serve: Each youth needs to have the opportunity to become an active citizen and understand the importance of giving back to the community.

The Pitt Alliance for Youth presented the first President’s Volunteer Service Awards to outstanding youth volunteers in the Spring of 2007. Students attending elementary, middle and high schools were eligible to participate. They were recognized for volunteer contributions on three levels: bronze, silver and gold.

The Community Pops Singers is a community choral group comprised of all ages and all levels of musical abilities.

Every year we prepare for three major concerts:

  • A Christmas concert in mid-December
  • One in May
  • One the 1st of September

Rehearsals are held in the Cypress Glen Auditorium on Hickory Street in Greenville. If you would like to join, call Rachel Sturz at 252-321-8838. Auditions are not required.

Overview

Eat Smart Move More North Carolina is a statewide movement that encourages healthy eating and physical activity wherever people live, learn, work, play and pray. Its mission is to reverse the rising tide of obesity and chronic disease among North Carolinians by helping them to eat smart, move more and achieve a healthy weight. Pitt County Schools elected to join the Eat Smart Move

More movement with their FitTogether grant from the Health and Wellness Trust Fund. The Pitt Memorial Hospital Foundation has also contributed funds for this project.

Eat Smart Move More Initiatives in Pitt County Schools

Pitt County Schools Nutrition and Physical Activity Programs – Promoting A Healthy Environment for Students & Staff:

  • Taste Explorers – One day a month the Child Nutrition staff provides the classroom teacher a sample of a fruit or vegetable and a learning sheet for each student. The following day the item is served on the cafeteria line as part of the school lunch. Classroom teachers register at the beginning of the school year. This year the theme is: GO WILD! with 5-A-Day the Color Way!
  • Nutrition Nugget – The Principal and Child Nutrition manager work together to announce a nutrition related question each week. Students are encouraged to answer the question and place their answer sheet in the Nutrition Nugget box located in the cafeteria. A prize is rewarded to one lucky student who answered the question correctly and the student’s teacher.
  • Eat Smart Campaigns – Every month information is posted in the cafeteria that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, in some cafeterias, nutrition related games are played with the children while they eat lunch.
  • Healthy Dining – Everyday the school breakfast and lunch menu options meet specific nutritional criteria for total fat and saturated fat. Additionally, all lunches qualify as a “Winner’s Circle” meal and are marked with the Winner’s Circle logo (a purple star and yellow fork). This year a third option at lunch is available everyday! The special dietary needs of some students are met daily when requested by their physician.
  • Summer Food Service Program – Every summer, many of the schools provide breakfast and lunch meals for children in their community as well as children from the Boys and Girls Club, recreation centers, and church sponsored activities. The need for adequate nutrition does not end when school is out for the summer.
  • Go FIT! After School – All After-School Enrichment program sites have implemented the GO FIT! After School Program! Children participate in weekly nutrition lessons, engage in 90 minutes of physical activity daily and enjoy healthy snacks.
  • Parent Newsletters – Every month a newsletter is sent home in the student’s folder in K-5 that highlights nutrition and physical activities for the month.
  • Active Recess – All classrooms in kindergarten through fifth grade have physical activity equipment kits and an Active Recess For All manual designed to get children active during recess. The NC Department of Public Instruction policy requires that all children receive 30 minutes of physical activity daily by the 2006-2007 school year! This year the goal for active recess is 90 minutes per week, in addition to two days of physical education.
  • Project Yeah! – Every spring, Pitt County Community Schools and Recreation provides an incentive program for students in grades 3-5 that challenges them to increase their physical activity levels outside the school day. Top performing classrooms and/or students receive a field trip to the East Carolina University Student Recreation Center. Schools register for this program in January.
  • Walking Trails – Walking trails have been placed at Ayden Elementary, Belvoir Elementary, Bethel School, Eastern Elementary, Elmhurst Elementary, Falkland Elementary, G.R. Whitfield, Northwest Elementary, Sam D. Bundy, Wellcome Middle, and the Wintergreen schools. The community is encouraged to use the trails during non-school hours. This school year, one more school will receive a walking trail.
  • Staff Wellness Program – Six elementary schools are participating in an incentive program designed to get staff eating smart and moving more. A graduate student from the Activity Promotion Lab at East Carolina University is coordinating the program.

The continued success of our programs in the area of promoting and supporting positive student development is made possible by a strong partnership with our community partners:

  • Brody School of Medicine
  • East Carolina University
  • Pitt County Health Department
  • Pitt County Health Education Foundation
  • Pitt County Memorial Hospital
  • Pitt Partners for Health
  • ViQuest

Programs are funded by:

Vidant Health Foundation Pitt County Schools NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund

Community Schools and Recreation is the lead agency for Greenville-Pitt County Senior Games.

Other coordinating agencies include:

  • City of Washington Parks and Recreation
  • ECU Campus Recreation and Wellness
  • The Mid-East Area Agency on Aging
  • Senior Programs at Pitt Co. Memorial Hospital
  • Greenville Recreation and Parks

Community Schools and Recreation is a coordinating agency for Special Olympics Pitt County with over 1200 athletes. Special Olympics Pitt County is a part of SONC which serves more than 37,000 athletes who have intellectual disabilities.

Sports Offered

Special Olympics North Carolina offers training and competition in 20 sports, including everything from Alpine Skiing to Volleyball.

Pitt County Special Olympics offers:

  • Aquatics
  • Basketball
  • Bocce
  • Bowling
  • Cheerleading
  • Roller Skating
  • Soccer
  • Spring Track and Field
  • Volunteer

The Special Olympics goal is to improve the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities through sport, by empowering them both on and off the field of play and bringing them into the larger society where they are respected and accepted. Special Olympics is a volunteer driven organization. Whether you’re interested in coaching athletes, helping in fund raising or coordinating events, there is a volunteer opportunity for just about everything.

The Tar River Community Band is comprised of doctors, lawyers, scientist, college professors, housewives, retirees and many other varied occupations of all ages over 18 years, and all levels of musical ability. Formed in 1978, members perform as often as they can for their own enjoyment and the joy of entertaining others.

Each year, the band opens Greenville’s popular Sunday in the Park series. They also provide music for the Greenville-Pitt County Senior Games’ opening ceremony and have performed in other various venues around Pitt County. Money raised from the annual Pops Concert helps defray expenses and supports local community activities.

Citizens from across Pitt County are invited to join the Band even if they haven’t picked up an instrument since high school. New members have been amazed at how quickly those fingerings return. The band rehearses each Thursday evening at C.M. Eppes Middle School at 7:15 PM. For further information, contact Pitt County Community Schools and Recreation at 252-902-1975.