Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program Transforming School Community and Tackling Childhood Obesity Epidemic

BLACKVILLE, SC – February 20, 2009 – Macedonia Elementary School is improving the health and wellness of its students and staff as a result of innovative changes guided by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program, which is a joint initiative of the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association.

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.

The goal of the Healthy Schools Program is to establish a healthy school environment as the norm and not the exception. To that end, the Healthy Schools Program supports schools around the nation in their efforts to create school environments where there are consistent and clear messages that physical activity and healthy eating are important and encouraged – in the classroom, cafeteria, gym, hallway and schoolyard. Research suggests that a healthier school environment can result in greater academic achievement, improved student and staff attendance and healthier lives for students and educators.

The Healthy Schools Program provides support to schools to implement programs and policies that promote physical activity and healthy eating among students and staff. Support to schools is based on the Healthy Schools Program Framework, as set of best practice criteria in the areas of nutrition, physical activity and school employee wellness, and the Six Steps to Creating a Healthier School Environment. The Healthy Schools Program will recognize participating schools at the Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze levels. Schools can be elevated in recognition status as they continue to enhance their healthy school practices.

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.

The Healthy Schools Program currently provides onsite support to over 700 schools in 17 states –

Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In 2008, the Healthy Schools Program began its expansion of its on-site support efforts to schools in 17 additional states – Alabama, Alaska, District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. Participating schools are a mix of elementary, middle and high schools from a range or urban, suburban and rural areas. Students in these schools are demographically and socio-economically diverse. The Healthy Schools Program places special priority on including schools that serve resource-constrained and vulnerable student populations.

About The Alliance for a Healthier Generation and The Healthy Schools Program                                  

The William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association partnered in May of 2005 to create a new generation of healthy Americans by addressing one of the nation’s leading public health threats – childhood obesity. The Alliance is working to stop the nationwide increase in childhood obesity by 2010, and empowering kids nationwide to make healthy lifestyle choices. The Alliance is focusing its work in the places that can make a difference to a child’s health: homes, schools, restaurants, doctor’s offices and communities.

The Alliance launched its Healthy Schools Program in February of 2006 to support schools across the country in their development of healthier school environments. The program takes a comprehensive approach by helping schools improve access to healthier foods; increase both physical education and physical activity opportunities before, during and after the school day; enhance nutrition education; and establish staff wellness programs. The Healthy Schools Program recognizes schools that succeed in meeting a set of comprehensive standards that address these areas at the Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the major funder of the Healthy Schools Program. Many other foundations and individuals also support the work of the Healthy Schools Program, including the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, MSST Foundation, Kessler Family Foundation, Ann & David Brennan Family Foundation, Missouri Health Foundation , Healthcare Foundation of Kansas City, Bank of America of Kansas City, and the Mental Insight Foundation.  For more information on the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, please visit: www.HealthierGeneration.org.