McKinney, Texas – Ten McKinney ISD schools were among those announced in August as America’s Healthiest Schools by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Of the approximately 31,000 schools that participate in the Healthy Schools Program, only 323 from 30 states and the District of Columbia were included on the 2017 list, and each recognized campus received the Healthier Generation’s prestigious National Healthy Schools Award.

Students at Webb Elementary, which earned a National Healthy Schools Silver Award from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, race around the gym during P.E. class.

Schools can qualify for awards at the Bronze, Silver or Gold level, based on the standards they achieve—all of which are stringent. Five MISD schools earned Bronze, and five earned Silver for 2017. Healthier Generation will honor these campuses at their annual Leaders Summit in San Antonio on Oct. 6.

National Healthy School Bronze Award
Vega Elementary
Cockrill Middle School
Dowell Middle School
Evans Middle School
McKinney Boyd High School

National Healthy School Silver Award
Burks Elementary
Reuben Johnson Elementary
Webb Elementary
Wilmeth Elementary
Scott Johnson Middle School

“Every child deserves to go to a healthy school. We couldn’t be prouder to recognize these schools for leading the way,” said Dr. Howell Wechsler, CEO of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, in an August press release. “The administrators, food service staff, physical educators, classroom teachers and parents in these communities have all worked incredibly hard to prioritize student health and set kids on a path of lifelong success, both in and out of the classroom.”

To earn inclusion on the list, each Healthy School met rigorous criteria that included serving healthier meals and snacks, getting students moving more, offering high-quality physical and health education and empowering school leaders to become healthy role models. Each recognized school participates in Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program—one of the nation’s largest school-based childhood obesity prevention initiatives that boasts some 31,000 participating schools.

“Winning the Silver award from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation is a true honor,” said SJMS Nurse Sherri Kerr. “We have a great staff and student body who support our Coordinated Health Committee and participate willingly in all our health activities, which is key to a successful project. Teaching someone healthy habits is easy, but choosing to be healthy is really hard to accomplish—but very rewarding. At Scott Johnson Middle School, we have empowered our staff, students and parents to choose lifelong healthy habits.”

That has been the common theme among these campuses. Each recognized Healthy School meets or exceeds federal nutrition standards for school meals and snacks, offers breakfast daily, implements district wellness policies and updates progress annually. In addition, each provides students with at least 60 minutes of physical education per week and ensures physical activity throughout the school day.

“These MISD campuses go above and beyond in their Coordinated Health Team collaboration to prioritize student health and wellness,” said MISD Health Services Director Julie Blankenship. “The guidelines for this national recognition award are very stringent, and the MISD School Health Advisory Council is proud of these campuses for their continued work and dedication to health and wellness.”

Source: Alliance for a Healthier Generation

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