News

Monday, May 17, 2010

Moving forward on developing healthy school campuses

On Wednesday, May 12, 2010, at the districts’ Wellness Council Meeting, Kathleen DeChadenedes, director of Orfalea’s S’cool Food Initiative, announced the school recipients of two $250 Partners for Fit Youth mini-grants. This money will be used to enhance physical activity on their school campuses.

The elementary award went to Adams School. In 2009-10, Adams School hired two P.E. teachers, adjusted the school schedule to hold recess before lunch, worked with teachers to provide healthy snacks for celebrations, replaced McDonald’s nights and See’s candy sales with a read-a-thon and coffee sales, no longer uses food as a reward for classroom management, and implemented numerous other changes.

The secondary award went to La Cuesta Continuation School. La Cuesta collaborated with the districts’ Department of Nutrition Services to serve a very healthy breakfast and lunch to its students. The principal and staff currently manage the breakfast bar. One of their teachers offers a sixth-period elective on Fridays introducing students to new and unfamiliar foods. A school garden and worm bins were built by students to recycle food scraps.

In addition, Honorable Mention went to both Dos Pueblos High School and Santa Barbara High School for leading the fight against obesity and implementing the districts’ Wellness Policy. All four schools will be recognized on Tuesday, June 22, 2010, at the Santa Barbara School Districts’ Board of Education meeting.

The Wellness Steering Committee thanks all schools for their participation; commitment to the health and well-being of students, staff, and families; and looks forward to working with the school sites on these important issues in 2010-11.