As part of its Healthy Schools Program, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation celebrates the efforts and achievements of its members. In the attached, you will read about innovative and inspiring success stories happening in schools all across the country. We hope that your schools will also share their healthy victories in upcoming newsletters! Please read, share, print and enjoy!
Stories Featured this Month:
Parents Send Healthy Snacks to School
PITTMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ENFIELD, NORTH CAROLINA
After receiving the Bronze Award last summer from the Healthy Schools Program, Principal Bettie Archibald from Pittman Elementary wanted to take her efforts a step further by making sure her students are eating healthy and that all foods eaten in her school meet the Alliance’s Competitive Foods Guidelines. She found the Healthy Schools Program Product Navigator to be a helpful tool and she wanted parents to take advantage of it. She created a list of snacks from the Navigator and took it to the local supermarkets to get the price on each product. Then she sent this list home to parents and asked that parents only send snack foods that meet the Guidelines.
Principal Archibald did receive some initial resistance after announcing the new policy. She held a meeting where she explained the purpose of the Guidelines and discussed the progress the school had made with the Healthy Schools Program. Although schools do not need to adopt a policy encouraging parents to only send snacks that meet the Guidelines in order to reach an award level, Principal Archibald felt that it was the right step to take to improve the health of her school community while educating parents on how to make healthier choices at home. After she explained this to parents she said, parents understood and agreed to follow the new snack policy.
The snack food policy was implemented in September 2008 and was effective immediately. One month later at a meeting for principals in the district, all the other elementary and middle schools in the district decided to adopt the same policy with support from district administration.
TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | TULSA, OKLAHOMA
If you ask a student what fruits and vegetables are raised in their state you may get a blank stare. However, 5th graders in Tulsa Public Schools have a greater understanding of Oklahoma agriculture thanks to an innovative program called Farm to Market. The Farm to Market program is successful in large part to countless volunteers who help students make the connection between the ground and the grocery store.
Farm to Market is a partnership between Tulsa Public Schools Child Nutrition Service and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Farm to School Program. “When this program is tied to other programs dealing with encouraging fruit and vegetable consumption, benefits of the project come through increased intake of vegetables and fruits as measured in the cafeteria through participation at the offering bar as observed by the cafeteria and teaching staff,” said Lisa Griffin, child nutrition coordinator at Tulsa Public Schools.
During the program children learn through hands on lessons and nutrition education lessons. Lessons include the mobile dairy unit featuring a live dairy cow, the Oklahoma Wheat Commission discusses whole wheat products and recipes, the Oklahoma Watermelon Board offers taste testing for students, bee farmers teach children about bees, honey and the process of pollination. Students also have the opportunity to meet local farmers and growers of produce such as asparagus, tomatoes and green peppers. Master gardener’s from the Oklahoma State University Extension office teach students about worm composting and home gardening. For many children, the highlight of the program was making their own biodegradable pot and planting which they could either take home, plant in a school garden or grow in their classroom.
DELONG MIDDLE SCHOOL | EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN
The staff at DeLong Middle School is serious about having a fun staff wellness program and they are working together to be creative. After completing their staff wellness interest survey they came up with a long list of activities they wanted to try. In order to raise funds for the wellness activities they decided to hold a clothes swap. Staff members pay $3 to get in and then clothes were swapped for free. They used the money to purchase lunches for staff and to make gift baskets to use as incentives.
With a supportive administration that encourages and participates in the program, and despite temperatures that are often frigid, this staff manages to stay active inside and out. They believe that by showing students that “finding your play” is a key element to becoming and staying healthy, they are setting a good example for their students.
“Our wellness activities have allowed me to really get to know my fellow colleagues, respect them at work and outside of work. It has allowed more communication and a whole lot of fun! Benefits are endless,” said health teacher Tom Kidd.
Acknowledging that their staff tends to have a competitive nature, they have tried to include activities that are individual in nature or that promote team building such as yoga, water aerobics, broomball and scavenger hunts. Other activities the school wellness council has sponsored recently include canoeing, bowling, knitting/crocheting, staff massage day, team trivia and every other Friday they enjoy an active game of pickleball.
GATEWAY PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL | READING, PENNSYLVANIA
By expanding to include students, the school wellness council at Gateway Performing Arts School experienced an infusion of enthusiasm. The students brought many new ideas to the table as well as the energy and excitement to see them through.
Since Gateway is a performing arts school, the students had creative ideas on how to incorporate health messages into the various components of their arts curriculum. The students are working on a newsletter for the school with different themes and articles on healthy living and a book of healthy recipes to send home to families. They are planning on painting the cafeteria walls with the food pyramid and will start sharing healthy tips on the daily announcements.
Student members are also planning to talk in each of their classes about the council and to solicit additional ideas from other students. The wellness council is also working on plans to change the format of their afterschool program to make sure that half of the time is spent doing physical activities.
KNOX COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | EDINA, MISSOURIIn Knox County, Knox County Elementary is keeping kids and staff moving after adding a full-time physical education teacher and a second PE class per week for 4 th and 5 th graders. The teachers are also now using “Jammin Minutes” in the classroom. For staff they have started a “Biggest Loser” contest with incentives to encourage staff to exercise daily.
KNOX COUNTY R-I HIGH SCHOOL | EDINA, MISSOURIStudents at Knox County R-I High School were welcomed back to school this past fall with a "greener" school lunch program—salad! The school is offering a salad bar daily for students in grades 6-12 and for K-12 district staff. Response to the salad bar continues to be very positive. The overall lunch count has increased, more staff members are eating lunch and the nursing office is reporting less students coming to the nurse with headaches. The school has also removed all soft drinks from the vending machines and replaced them with bottled water and low-calorie sports drinks.
MOBERLY MIDDLE SCHOOL | MOBERLY, MISSOURIMoberly Middle School has developed a new before/afterschool club called the “Fitness Club.” Students come to school early and stay late after the bell rings because they are excited about participating in physical activity opportunities. The program started when school wellness council members decided that they needed to do more to get the students moving. They said at first it was challenging to find volunteers to facilitate the club’s activities but that the wellness council members have each been doing their part to help out. According to health teacher and SWC member Meredith Pettit, “We are striving toward not being another statistic; we do not want the trend to be for MMS students to be a part of the growing epidemic of childhood obesity. Kids are willing and excited to be active/healthy; they merely need to be given the opportunity.”
GRATZ BROWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | MOBERLY, MISSOURIAt Gratz Brown Elementary School in Moberly, students were treated to a special day of events last November to promote physical activity. Students and staff started the morning at the daily assembly by dancing to the popular song, “YMCA.” Throughout the day, students used their bodies and minds to actively engage in reading, writing and math activities related to the benefits of fitness. The school also hosted a fitness poster contest to promote being physically active.
ALMA SCHRADER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURIIn Cape Girardeau, Alma Schrader Elementary principal Ruth Ann Orr has taken on a lead role in promoting the health of her school community. She is teaching a Zumba ® class, available to teachers after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The class combines Latin music with easy to follow dance moves. She will also offer the class to parents while their children participate in the Marathon Kids Club after school on Wednesdays. The Marathon Kid Club began at Clippard Elementary several years ago and is starting to spread through the district. During the 45-minute dance class, participants can burn 350 calories, said Orr, who has lost 40 pounds since starting a Zumba ® class last January. She became certified to teach the class over the summer and is excited to share her excitement for this fun and active program.
LONG MILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | YOUNGSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
After completing their Healthy Schools Builder® Inventory, the school wellness council at Long Mill Elementary decided that a top priority was changing how their students viewed healthy food and beverage choices. They created a calendar of health promoting themes for the rest of the school year which kicked off in December with “Waterful Wednesdays.” In agreement that everyone in the school should consume more water they promoted drinking water during mealtime and throughout the school day. Students were encouraged to bring their own water bottle from home or to select the bottled water choice in the cafeteria. Every Wednesday they held a raffle for students who brought their own water bottles from home. Winners received a water bottle with their favorite character on it.
Other wellness themes planned for the 2008-09 school year include drinking milk in January, eating sweet potatoes in February, “Johnny Appleseed” in March, eating strawberries in April, “Move More” in May, and “Minimize Your Meals” in June.
BECKHAM BATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | WHITESBURG, KENTUCKY
The school wellness council at Beckham Bates is working to help everyone in their school community find balance and energy. The council used the Healthy Schools Program staff wellness interest survey to gauge interest for different kinds of programs. Based on the results the wellness council started the “B.B.&E” program, which stands for “Be Balanced and Energized!” They started the program by handing out pedometers and starting a walking program. Wellness council member Tammy Cook reports that team members like to share how many steps they have taken and what foods they are eating. One teacher told Cook she is “through with dieting.” Instead she has decided to make sustainable changes in her lifestyle such as parking farther away from stores, increasing her consumption of whole wheat, fruits and vegetables, and cutting out soft drinks.
The wellness council has also looked at ways to help improve the health of the community. They have started hosting Zumba ® classes after school open to staff, students and parents. Tammy Lee, a parent, said having classes available at school has encouraged her to become more faithful in her fitness routine. Amanda Black, early steps coordinator with Save the Children is able to interact with young children, infants through 3 years, while their parents participate in classes. Ricky Warf, principal at Beckham Bates is supportive of an active staff and student body. He believes the pedometer program and the aerobic dance classes are a great way to improve community and school relations. He wants the parents and community to know they are welcome and have ownership at Beckham Bates.
The school recently shared their efforts at a school board meeting and reported that next steps include increasing the availability of pedometers, bringing in professionals to discuss the importance of good nutrition and exercise and keeping students and parents more informed about health issues through school newsletters. Cook said, “We are becoming a team: students, staff, nurses, custodians and parents.”
MACEDONIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | BLACKVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA
Through work in their edible garden, third graders at Macedonia Elementary School are improving their nutrition and increasing their physical activity while deepening their understanding of ecosystems, the life cycle of plants, and learning other science, math and health education concepts. Staff and parents are discovering how powerful a community can be when you reach out to the right people.
”Our school is striving to be a school where children are taught to eat healthy foods. Our school lunches are planned with this thought in mind,” said Vicki Youmans, science lab facilitator. By focusing on this goal the school was offered monetary support from the Lower Savannah River Council to start the “Lean and Green Garden Club.” The club was started for third graders because the project would incorporate many of the third grade science standards. An effort is being made to also use art, math, reading and writing standards.
Since the school began their garden project local merchants have donated plants. The Blackville garden club has adopted the school and garden with members donating their time and expertise. Mayor Jackie Holman has donated seeds. A woman from the local Mennonite community donated a sage bush and did a demonstration on using herbs. The supervisor of the Blackville Farmers Market has offered the school an opportunity to set up a booth there to sell some of their vegetables which will also support the third grade math standards.
The district chef and lunchroom supervisor have agreed to come when the plants are ready to harvest and prepare foods with the vegetables and herbs for the students to do a taste test. Because they started their garden in the fall the first harvest will include collards, red and green cabbages, turnips, onions, herbs, lettuce and pansies. This experience supports the school’s mission of creating a positive school environment where staff, parents, and community work together.
School-Community Partnerships Help Gardens Spring to Life
NEW SWEDEN CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL | NEW SWEDEN, MAINE
The Farm to School Project at the New Sweden Consolidated School began in the fall of 2005. Meetings with farmers, cooperative extension agricultural aides, school food service personnel and school administrators were held throughout the school year. Meetings succeeded in laying the groundwork to move forward with increasing foods purchased locally. Slowly, and when available, farmers would provide school food service personnel information about their crops and/or available products for purchase.
During the spring of 2006, in addition to local potatoes and beef, school food service personnel began adding other locally grown produce to the school meals menus. They also started discussing with farmers the possibility of starting a small apple orchard. In September 2007, a garden plot location for the community-school garden was designated and named “The Carrotsmatic Stock Plot.” As fall weather was moving in quickly, they planted a small apple orchard with the kindergarten students. These students and their families were designated caretakers to watch the trees grow as the students grow and learn with them.
That fall the school also partnered with Cooperative Extension to utilize the Maine Apprentice Gardeners’ Curriculum with New Sweden School’s 3rd & 4th grades. The school health coordinator also printed the first edition of the school’s Community Garden Project newsletter called “Get the Dirt,” with the intent that the 5th and 6th graders will eventually become the writers and editors of the newsletter.
As winter closed in, a fundraising project was implemented for the Community School Garden called “Rolls for Rows.” The 7th and 8th grade students are leading this project. The goal is not only to raise money but also to educate students and families about the importance of eating quality whole grain products. The school’s 1st and 2nd grade students have become the official photojournalists for the project, frequently taking pictures of the garden in order to document the growth and progress.
School “Store” Used to Reinforce Health Education
NORTH STEWART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | BIG ROCK, TENNESSEE
After completing the Healthy Schools Inventory and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Health Index, North Stewart Elementary identified that they needed to increase opportunities for students to learn about health education, and to find creative ways to incorporate healthy lessons across the disciplines. Susan Richardson, school counselor, recalled seeing a mock grocery store at a museum and the team agreed that such a venue could be a good way to reinforce health education in the school’s curriculum.
To work on implementing their idea, the school wellness council pulled together a team of volunteers that included Coordinated School Health, the University of Tennessee Extension Services, PTA members, youth volunteers and staff from local grocery stores. Principal Debbie Grasty saw the potential for this project to enhance the school’s academic program and she found a classroom to house the store. Members of the planning committee then announced the plans and began collecting donations of empty containers for the store. Parent and teen volunteers helped to clean, organize and prepare the donations for use in the store.
Richardson and Annette Cole, a UT Extension Agent, are helping to create lesson plans that link to state standards. They want students to be able to learn how to read food labels, and to understand the basics about what foods are necessary for a healthy diet. They can also learn about food preparation, preservatives, manufacturing and processing of the foods we buy, hand washing, and food safety which includes the need to maintain a clean area for cooking and proper handling of fresh foods, especially meats and fish. Other topics will include understanding the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients found in pre-packaged foods and fresh foods and how they affect the body. Students will also explore foods needed for good health, proper serving portions and how the foods we eat affect our digestive tract and food absorption.
The group is also outlining lessons to incorporate math, social studies and even language skills into their plan for the school store. They hope to learn about how food is grown, produced and packaged and where our food comes from. Richardson even thinks the store will help students develop social skills. “As a school counselor I am always looking for new and creative ways to teach social skills and conflict resolution. In the store, students can learn to use manners while shopping, patience while waiting in line, and communication skills with other shoppers and store clerks.” The school wellness council reports that they hope to have the store ready “for business” by the end of February.
Coach Leads Colleagues to Wellness
OAK GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | MIAMI, FLORIDA
Creating a healthy staff at school is the personal mission of Alexis Reyes, physical education teacher at Oak Grove. He has taken the lead and is working hard to make sure the staff wellness program is a success. Coach Reyes started by doing his homework, putting together a school wellness council with staff, students and parents and using the staff wellness surveys to find out what sort of programming the staff might enjoy.
Capitalizing on the New Year, Coach Reyes started the fitness program in early January with the goal of improving the cardiovascular health of the staff. In mid-January they added a flexibility component and plan to add aerobics classes in February. Reyes said, “Since we started the program the teachers are very motivated and are already asking for other types of classes for the future. Also the kids are seeing the teachers exercising and want to find out more-- they are also welcome to join in.”
Budget Cuts Bring More Volunteers to the Table
SOUTH POINTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | MIAMI, FLORIDA
Due to recent budget cuts in Dade County, the physical education program lost a number of teachers across the district. In one particular case at South Pointe Elementary, the loss of one physical education teacher resulted in much larger numbers of students assigned to the remaining physical education classes. Out of concern for the potential threat to the quality of PE instruction, the school’s PTA stepped in to raise additional funds which enabled them to hire an assistant for the physical education program. This assistant allows the physical education teacher, Gary Bond, to maintain the quality of instruction that has always been an important part of maintaining a healthy student population.
Parents have also stepped up to the plate and are volunteering their time to help. One parent, Elizabeth Schepis, volunteers twice a week for an hour to assist with the fitness development of two of the fourth grade classes. She is a nationally certified personal trainer and is able to provide instruction to a small group of children while Bond or the assistant work with the rest of the class.
Schepis is also helping the staff at South Pointe to get in shape. After the school wellness council completed their inventory and realized there was a need for a staff wellness program, they started a weekly Tai Chi class. Staff enjoyed the program and felt that it was a great way to relieve stress after a long workday. Schepis also started offering a fitness class twice a week after school. The class is open to both staff and parents for a nominal fee. She works with the class on aerobic fitness, strength development and flexibility. The parents and teachers have come together at South Pointe Elementary so that everyone can benefit from a healthier school environment.
"Improving Our Health While Setting An Example"
CRESCENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | BECKLEY, WEST VIRGINIA
For the past five years Crescent Elementary has participated in a program called PEIA (Public Employee Insurance Agency) Pathways to Wellness. The program brings annual health screenings to participants in addition to two behavior change programs each year which focus on physical activity and/or nutrition. In addition to school faculty, the program is also available to service personnel, school nurses, physical therapists, retirees, other Raleigh County School board employees and spouses of employees.
Jane Sutphin, physical education teacher at Crescent said, “As a staff, we have taken a renewed interest in improving and maintaining our health through our staff wellness program. The health screenings have resulted in more than one of us being alerted to health problems that needed immediate attention. By participating in the behavior change programs, we are improving our health while setting an example for our students of the importance physical activity and making wise nutrition choices.”
Some examples of the behavior change programs the school has participated in:
This year the school received a grant to have staff receive CPR training from the American Heart Association. In May 2007, Crescent Elementary was recognized as the PEIA Pathways to Wellness Worksite of the Month.
District Shares Excitement and Builds Momentum
WEST NEW YORK SCHOOL DISTRICT | WEST NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY
West New York Public School District is in its third year with the Healthy Schools Program. “Our district has shifted from focusing on cookies to focusing on a culture. We now focus our efforts on whole school reform including school meals, physical activity, health education, staff wellness and beyond. All areas of the school environment play significant roles in making this reform a reality,” said Sal Valenza, food service director.
West New York has been fortunate to have a Board of Education that is extremely supportive of their efforts. When four schools in the district received the National Recognition Award last summer, the excitement in the district helped build additional momentum for programs and the Board has worked to make sure that extra funds were available to help schools continue on the path to success.
This year, each school was able to provide stipends to four school wellness council members, and each school received funds to put towards two health and fitness instructor positions to assist in implementation of their action plans. On December 10 th, a special ceremony was held to honor West New York’s Healthy Schools Program recognized schools and to recognize the district-at-large for their tremendous efforts in creating healthier environments. District staff shared some of their thoughts and insights with us here:
“The thing about the wellness initiative that excites me is the way that it had taken hold in West New York. It started out with a few individuals who wanted to make a change and the word has spread. Each day I get calls and e-mails with people that have ideas for programs and offers to help us with our mission. I think we are only scratching the surface in what we can accomplish.” John Fraraccio, district supervisor of health and physical education
“The Alliance’s encouragement, along with their massive amount of resources, has enabled the district to make significant progress toward our goal of healthy schools. To be included among those schools receiving Bronze and Silver Awards is a proud achievement for our Alliance schools and our district wellness program.” Rosemary Donnelly, assistant superintendent of schools
Building a Foundation for Healthy Changes
OREGON CITY HIGH SCHOOL | OREGON CITY, OREGON
Oregon City High School is not a newcomer to implementing school wellness programs. Several years ago the school participated in a “Healthy Kids Learn Better” project which built a strong foundation for its work in the Healthy Schools Program. As wellness has become more and more of a priority the school has continued to make changes towards becoming a healthier school community. They started by replacing the soda with water in the vending machines for both students and staff. Along with this switch came a push for staff to drink more water. According to Jamie Lee, physical education teacher, “Drinking more water is a healthy behavior change for many at the school.”
To entice staff to drink more water, the school wellness council put together a water-drinking contest and the school provided funding to purchase water bottles for the staff. Additionally, water filters were installed in key areas around the school. Each week staff can enter their name into a drawing for prizes. According to the wellness council, participation has been good but the best outcome is having the students see that the staff are interested in wellness and that water is the healthiest choice.
The school wellness council is also working to build a wellness library to meet the needs of the staff. “In the past, we have tried afterschool exercise classes. However, due to attendance and space constraints the efforts were not successful,” said one member of the school wellness council. With the library, staff can checkout a variety of books ranging from health and wellness topics to cooking, exercise DVDs and exercise equipment. Besides helping staff become healthier, the wellness council’s goal is that the library will have residual effects—allowing the family members of the staff to also participate in the exercise and benefit from healthier cooking.
ESPANOLA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | ESPANOLA, NEW MEXICO
Partnerships in any endeavor are crucial to success. This is especially true when addressing the health and well-being of students. The Espanola Valley Physical Education Department has joined forces with Presbyterian Health Services and the Espanola Hospital as an active member of the Community Diabetes Initiative in a quest to combat the high incidence of diabetes and obesity in the schools and its ultimate impact on the community.
Celina Roybal, Espanola Valley High School physical education teacher and Kathy Garcia, registered nurse with Espanola’s Presbyterian Health Services, have partnered in an attempt to promote and provide physical activities that establish the foundation for personal fitness habits through a more non-traditional approach. As a team, Roybal and Garcia have implemented ongoing programs of instruction that includes programming for 9th grade students around Body Mass Index measurements and a “Fit for Life” lunch program - specifically designed to offer students the opportunity during the lunch period to learn about maintaining a healthy lifestyle through nutrition and lifelong physical activity. The school offers a full hour for lunch so they found this was a good time for students to participate in additional physical activity opportunities.
Another program offered through this collaboration was a boxing event where well-known, local boxer, Monica Lovato, demonstrated her talents. Lovato said, “Boxing provides a way for young people to enhance their sense of self-worth, which many often lack.” Lovato also hopes the sport can provide a pathway to peace for teens who may find themselves caught up in gangs.
As the collaboration continues between Roybal and Garcia, they hope the growing trend of providing quality physical education continues as this partnership provides students with the opportunity to participate in activities they may not be exposed to otherwise.
Another goal of the partnership is to implement an employee wellness program at Espanola Valley High School. The employee wellness program is in the beginning stages as 12 teachers/staff have agreed to participate and Roybal and Garcia see great potential for staff to serve as health and wellness role models at the high school and in the community.
WEIGHT WATCHERS ® AT WORK
The Weight Watchers ® At Work program offers an easy way to supplement your school employee wellness program. With Weight Watchers ® At Work meetings, you can have the convenience of weekly Weight Watchers ® meetings right at your school, as well as the daily support of your fellow teachers and co-workers. It is a great combination for success!
To bring Weight Watchers ® to your school, please visit www.weightwatchers.com/work or call 1-800-8-AT-WORK (1-800-828-9675). The website will help you find out which programs are available in your area. In addition to meetings at your school, the program may offer local meeting vouchers to attend meetings held elsewhere in your community, online subscriptions or the “At Home Kit.”
Follow these three easy steps to start a program at your school:
Please Note: At least 15 people will need to commit to the program to bring Weight Watchers ® At Work to your schools, so invite as many people as possible to the Open House meeting.
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