LISBON - Increased physical or social activity, better nutrition or disease prevention will be the focus of nine area schools awarded $250 mini-grants from the Coordinated Action for School Health Coalition.

Recipients include Calcutta Elementary, East Palestine Elementary, East Palestine Middle School, Leetonia Middle School, Lisbon David Anderson Jr./Sr. High School, Lisbon McKinley Elementary, Southern Local Middle School, United Local Elementary and West Point Elementary.

According to the descriptions on the grant applications, the money will cover programs ranging from cup stacking and Mix it Up Day to a Wellness challenge and Walking in America.

"Healthy kids learn better," CASH Coordinator Danielle Dillon said Tuesday, adding the coalition has been promoting the idea for years.

In existence for 15 years, the CASH Coalition provides districts with training, grants and survey supports with a goal of providing coordinated school health programs not just focusing on physical education and nutrition, but emotional/behavioral programs and family and community involvement.

Dillon said recent studies show that "increased physical activity and better nutrition can actually affect students' academic performance and their attitude."

This is the second year for the mini-grants, with every applicant receiving one. Funding came from the CASH Coalition, Salem Community Hospital, the American Cancer Society and Ohio Action for Healthy Kids. CASH Coalition members include the American Cancer Society, county Educational Service Center, county Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, Counseling Center of Columbiana County, East Liverpool City Hospital, Salem Community Hospital and the Ohio Department of Health.

Dillon said every school has a school health team which works to develop programs aimed at promoting good nutrition, good health and physical activity.

The schools and their proposals included:

Calcutta Elementary School, cupstacking program aimed at stacking and unstacking plastic cups in a predetermined sequence to promote eye-hand coordination, self-esteem and self-confidence.

East Palestine Elementary School, parachute games to promote movement, coordination, teamwork and agility through use of a 12-foot parachute and other accessories, indoors or outdoors.

East Palestine Middle School, purchase of equipment such as resistance bands and aerobic DVDs to promote physical activity program aimed at Building Better Bulldogs.

Leetonia Middle School, Mix-It-Up Days for students to sit in different spots at lunch and meet other students, with trivia, talking points and questions following a different theme each month to help them drum up conversations with different students.

Lisbon McKinley Elementary and David Anderson Jr./Sr. High School, purchase of hand sanitizer dispensers and solutions to promote handwashing and disease prevention.

Southern Local Middle School, purchase of equipment, such as resistance bands, to increase physical fitness in students.

United Local Elementary School, Wellness Challenge program focusing on physical activity and healthy snacks, with students walking vigorously, then taking part in a physical activity, such as line dancing or kick ball, and given a healthy snack.

West Point Elementary School, Walking in America program with students given goals for walking a number of miles and trying to reach a destination in America with their steps.