Healthy Zone School Recognition Program Application

Thank you for your interest in the Healthy Zone School Recognition Program. This program is created to (1) honor schools for their healthy practices and (2) assist schools that wish to improve the health of their environment.

Healthy Zone School: These schools demonstrate a high level commitment to the health of their students by promoting health, physical activity, and nutrition inside and outside of the school. Schools selected for this honor will receive a Healthy Zone School flag, banner, signage for placement throughout their school, funding for physical education equipment, FITNESSGRAM® 9.0 license and webhosting, a flip camera, and opportunities for funding of activity promotions. This 3 year honor is valued in excess of $7000. In addition, teachers will also be provided with training opportunities by The Cooper Institute (CI). Schools that are chosen for the program will be encouraged to reach out as healthy examples to other schools in their communities.

Healthy Zone School - In Training: These schools will work with the CI team to help enhance healthy behaviors in their schools and communities. These schools will receive funding for physical education equipment, FITNESSGRAM® 9.0 license and webhosting, a flip camera, and funding for activity promotions. This 3 year honor is valued in excess of $7000. In addition, these schools will be provided with training opportunities by CI.

Applying and participating in the Healthy Zone School Recognition Program

All levels (elementary, middle, high) and types (private, charter, public) of schools are encouraged to apply. Only individual schools will be honored; districts may not apply. Schools that have more than one campus location must complete separate applications for each campus.

The application process consists of three sections and should be completed by a physical education teacher, health teacher or nurse. The school principal must sign the application to verify that all information is correct. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Schools will be judged based on their current health, physical activity, nutrition, and community involvement practices, as well as the school’s potential to establish an optimal health environment. Three Healthy Zone Schools and 16 Healthy Zone Schools - In Training will be selected in the spring of 2012.

All schools selected for the program will be invited to orientation training at CI, where they will be provided with information and tips on creating a healthier school environment. Teachers will also be provided with webinars to receive information from healthy school experts and access to a project resource website to assist them with implementing healthy activities.

Designations will last 3 years. Each school participating in this program will be asked to complete activities that promote health, physical activity and nutrition in their schools and/or communities throughout each year of their designation. Schools will be asked to communicate their experiences and practices with CI.