EVSC Schools Receive Awards for Promoting Health

EVSC Schools Receive Awards for Promoting Health

Schools in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation have worked to promote physical activities in their schools, and thanks to the Indiana Action for Health Kids, their hard work is being noticed. Twenty-one schools in the EVSC were recognized this year with the Healthy Hoosier School Award for having programs in place that promote good nutrition and increased physical activity for students.

“The EVSC is meeting the challenge of the rising risk of obesity for today’s youth,” said Dale Naylor, coordinator of coordinated school health. “These awards are a testament to the commitment of our schools and community partners in ensuring students are healthy and can reach their maximum potential at school and in life.”

Among this year’s winners was Helfrich Park STEM Academy who was the top winner in the gold-level category. In addition, North High School also received a gold award for their healthy efforts. Helfrich Park and North were two of only six schools in Indiana to receive a gold award.

Multiple EVSC schools received silver awards this year, including Dexter Elementary, Fairlawn Elementary, Reitz High, Hebron Elementary, Highland Elementary, McGary Middle, Plaza Park Middle, Stringtown Elementary, Tekoppel Elementary, Thompkins Middle, Vogel Elementary and Harrison High.

The Academy for Innovative Studies, Caze Elementary, Cedar Hall Community School, Delaware Elementary, Glenwood Leadership Academy, Harper Elementary and Stockwell Elementary all were bronze level winners.

The Healthy Hoosier School Award was developed by Indiana Action for Healthy Kids, an affiliate of the national organization, Action for Healthy Kids. The national organization is the only non-profit organization formed that specifically address the epidemic of overweight, undernourished and sedentary youth by focusing on changes at schools.

The top five leading causes of death — heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes — are directly linked to unhealthy lifestyles. Poor nutrition and a lack of physical activity are major contributors to unhealthy lifestyles. Unfortunately, such habits are often established during youth and extend into adulthood.

All of the EVSC schools winning the awards participate in the Coordinated School Health program which recognizes the importance of eight interactive components in serving the whole child including, physical education; health education; family and community involvement; nutrition services; health promotion for staff; counseling, psychological and social services; healthy school environment; and health services. The eight components work together to support the students’ nutritional, physical, social and emotional well-being. These components affect a student’s academic achievement, help to reduce absenteeism and increase healthy behaviors.

Other awards the EVSC has gained for its wellness programs include:

In 2006, the Nutrition & Physical Activity Team for the EVSC School-Community Council was awarded the Senator Richard Lugar Health & Fitness Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to the community in health and fitness awareness and education.

In March 2008, the Indiana Action for Healthy Kids named six EVSC schools as recipients for the Healthy Hoosier School Award. In 2009 and 2010, 12 EVSC schools received awards.
Audra Offut, current assistant principal at Thompkins and former Helfrich Park physical education teacher, was named Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the Indiana Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation and Dance in October 2008. The award recognizes an outstanding physical education teacher at the elementary, middle and high school level each year who works to make an impact on the lives of students across the state. Offutt has been a physical education teacher in the EVSC for 20 years. The physical education teachers at Helfrich Park have been able to develop a “mini gym” in which students can use air dyne bikes, treadmills, elliptical machines, stair-masters and the inter-active video game, Dance, Dance Revolution. Students wear heart rate monitors while in class that lets them know the level of their efforts based on their heart rate. They have developed walking clubs, after-school fitness clubs, bowling leagues and a cardio club and more to get kids moving.

In March of 2009, The Division of Adolescent and School Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) selected the EVSC’s Coordinated School Health Program as one of only six models in the nation that exemplify best practices in coordinated school health.

Sara DeWitt

Communication Specialist

Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation

Phone: (812) 435-0207

Fax: (812) 435-8599

sara.dewitt@evsc.k12.in.us

Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation

1 Southeast Ninth Street

Evansville, IN 47708

Phone: (812) 435-8453

www.evscschools.com