Eden Christian Academy, with campuses in Ross, Franklin Park and Pine, has received a Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge grant of $9,678 to implement the Kick Start My Heart Program to help students enhance their cardiovascular fitness.

The program will provide new treadmills and elliptical machines to use in physical education classes at the academy's Mount Nebo campus on Nicholson Road in Franklin Park. The program is expected to serve more than 180 students in grades seven through 12.

All school board meetings are now conducted in the large group instruction room of the Edgeworth Elementary School, 200 Meadow Lane in Sewickley.

• An appreciation program will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday in celebration of School Board Appreciation Month.

Board members will be acknowledged for their volunteer service and commitment. In addition to the current nine board members, outgoing members Florence Iwler and Marianne Wagner will be honored for distinguished service. Dr. Iwler has served for 16 years and Mrs. Wagner for 12 years.

• The middle school will hold an Edelweiss Dinner Fest Jan 29 to raise money for its musical.

Entertainment, carnival games, Austrian-themed food and gourmet baked goods will be part of the program. Dinner will be served from 5 to 8 p.m. in the cafeteria of the school at 201 Graham St.

Advance tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and $20 for a family of four. Tickets purchased at the door will be $10 for adults, $7 for students and seniors and $25 for a family of four.

The Mars Area school board has approved the high school girls' swim coach's request for an assistant to teaching diving.

The school board voted Jan. 12 to add an assistant swimming and diving coach to the supplemental coaching positions at a stipend of $2,718 for this school year and $2,800 for the 2010-11 school year.

High school swim coach Heidi Brandon made the request at the board's December meeting, saying that more than 80 percent of the team's competitors have diving teams. Mars Area has nine students diving.

Maria Misenhelter, the mother of a team member, had been coaching diving as a volunteer. She has coached diving in the past at Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley and Hampton.

• Members of the cheerleader boosters organization at Mars Area High School will help form a plan to phase in limits to the cheerleading squad.

The school board had approved limiting the squads to 16 members in May, a policy that was devised by the high school principals.

But members of the boosters organization asked the board Jan. 12 if the policy could be phased in, starting with next year's freshman squad.

There will be 25 girls vying for the varsity squad next year, Mrs. Eppley said.

Members of the booster group told the board that it would make more sense to "ease into" the restrictions, starting with next year's freshman squad. The junior varsity squad would be limited to 16 the following year, and the varsity squad in three years.

That way, girls who don't think they will make a smaller squad can choose another activity, Mrs. Eppley said. Many of the girls have been cheering since first grade, she said.

Tryouts for next year's cheerleading squads will be held Feb. 28.

-- Sandy Trozzo

• An online tool is available to Mars Area students and teachers to help teach better nutrition.

Sharon Gruver, regional manager for Nutrition Inc. in Mars Area, demonstrated the iNutrition Web site for board members Jan. 12.

The site, at www.gotoiNutrition.com, gives students access to games to help them learn about food groups. There are also activities and lessons for teachers, Ms. Gruver said.

The school district is accepting nominations for distinguished athletes for its Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2010. Nominations are open through April 30.

The program recognizes individuals who have brought prestige and pride to the district as a player, coach, administrator or supporter.

Either teams or individuals can be nominated, and nominees can include those who attended Etna, Millvale or Shaler high schools before the 1971 merger.

Nomination forms are available at the district Web site, www.sasd.k12.pa.us, or at district schools. They must be returned by May 1 to: Amy Bodenlos, Shaler Area High School, 381 Wible Run Road, Glenshaw, PA 15116.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.