Memorial High School’s approach to wellness has earned the first ever Gold Recognition Award from the Healthy Schools Program. Memorial is a role model and source of inspiration for the West New York School District and the entire nation.
Memorial joined the Healthy Schools Program in 2006 as one of the program’s original pilot schools. Since then, Memorial has constantly pushed the envelope, finding new and exciting ways to improve school wellness. John Fraraccio, District Supervisor of Health and Physical Education, is a leading advocate for introducing changes gradually. “If you come in one day and say everything is going to change, it’s not going to work,” he said.
In the cafeteria, Food Services Director Sal Valenza describes the process as “a slow evolution rather than a big revolution. You can’t go from serving French fries to serving broccoli. You need to go in steps.” One step Memorial took was to participate in a “Healthier Food Fair” hosted by the district’s food service director to bring vendors and food service directors together and to spread the word about healthier nutrition options. Valenza worked with Alliance staff to ensure that all showcased products were compliant with the Alliance Competitive Food and Beverages Guidelines as well as school meal criteria. Staff, parents and representatives from other schools sampled a variety of healthier food products, and they loved them. It was a “win-win” for all involved: for food service staff, vendors and the students of the district who will now have access to healthier foods at school.
Eliminating candy and soda from all of its fundraisers in favor of more creative options was another big step towards a healthier school. Students at Memorial are required to wear uniforms, so one fundraiser was a dress-down day. Students and staff who donated $5 did not need to follow dress codes for the day. One dress-down day raised more than $8,000 across the district.
Memorial’s nutrition efforts complement the many opportunities students have to be physically active. All New Jersey high school students are required to pass health and physical education every year, but Memorial takes students’ physical activity to the next level and offers a wide range of activities outside of the physical education program. Memorial established a student wellness club that includes more than 60 students who act as wellness ambassadors for their peers. Students are also invited to participate in before and afterschool fitness clubs led by a personal trainer.
Staff members are invited to attend on-campus yoga and fitness boot camp classes. The boot camp began meeting at Memorial in April 2008 and has grown to 45 people. The boot camp meets three times a week and has three separate sessions in the afternoon to accommodate teachers and staff whose work days end at different times. Some of the participants have also started a racing team that participates in local races and walks. Many Memorial students also participate in charity walks and 5k races as part of their philanthropic activities. Next year the district hopes to develop a Web site to promote these activities, so the community can come out and support the runners and highlight past successes.
In February 2010, Memorial High School also hosted a full-day wellness event. The school’s wellness committee conceived the plan, recruited volunteers to help with implementation and won approval from the principal. Teachers were invited via e-mail to participate by leading a physical activity during their regular classroom lessons. These physical activities ranged from easy yoga stretches to active games. As an incentive, classroom teachers were invited to “dress down” in workout gear for the day. Students reported that incorporating physical activity into their class time during the wellness day helped release stress and energized them for the rest of the day. Teachers enjoyed sharing their commitment to a healthy, active lifestyle with their students. They also appreciated the chance for their students to see them doing something other than standing and talking at the front of the classroom. The event was such a success among staff and students that the wellness committee hopes it will become a monthly event in order to sustain their efforts over the long-term.
Memorial administrators believe their Gold Award is the result of a district wide effort to create a healthier community—one that does not stop at the gates of Memorial High. John Fraraccio is already working closely with Healthy Schools Program Relationship Manager Karen Buonocore to recruit new schools to the program and teach others how to go for the gold!
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