Healthy Zone School Excellence Award: Christie Elementary

Since 2011, the Healthy Zone School Program has helped schools create a culture of health and wellness. This partnership between The Cooper Institute and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas gives teachers, students, parents and the community the resources and education tools needed to live healthier, more active lives. Currently, the program has 181 schools with over 145,000 local students in Dallas, Collin, Rockwall and southern Denton counties.

Each year, we recognize one school that goes above and beyond their commitment to building healthy habits. We are proud to award Christie... Read more

Health and Fitness Night

By: Ron Crawford, White Rock Elementary, Richardson ISD

The 3 rd Annual White Rock Elementary Health and Fitness Night was a great success! We had 19 vendors and 4 interactive performances. The theme this year was “Preventive Wellness” and the vendors reflected this theme. White Rock Elementary’s Wellness team hosted the event and planned out the details. Students had many incentives and prizes sponsored by the vendors, our PTA, and the Healthy Zone School grant.

Some of the highlights included:

Students making their own healthy snacks (21 Day Challenge/Medical City... Read more

Dr. Recess... So AMAZING!!!

By Jennifer James, Vaughn Elementary, Frisco ISD

Vaughn Elementary was so excited and pumped to have Dr. Recess come to our school on Monday, March 26th! Our students learned about recess games that promote healthy habits and an active lifestyle.

Dr. Curt Hinson, who is well-known as “Dr. Recess,” taught our Vaughn students new games that focus on keeping students active, working together in partners and as a team while having fun. His focus is on health, fitness, nutrition, and developmentally appropriate play for kids. Some of the ways that our students and school will... Read more

Staff Wellness and Family Fitness Fun

By Juli Krepps, Donny O’Dell Elementary, Celina ISD

At O’Dell Elementary, we have dedicated ourselves to not only improving the health and wellness of our students; our focus this year is to reach out to our staff and families as well as continue to reach our students. Our “ODE”, as I like to call it, is driven to bridge the gap of information and inspiration between our school and community. We have instituted a few weekly and monthly activities, which involve accountability as well as the continued focus of overall health (including physical, mental and social health).

... Read more

Healthy Morning Announcements

By Carma Cameron, Akin Elementary, Wylie ISD

We at Akin are making an effort to encourage healthy choices and with that we are using our students to push the cause. Every Tuesday will be Tasty Tuesday, and on that morning the students who film our morning announcements will share a healthy nutritional choice. I am hoping that we will get videos, recipes, and examples from the students as we move forward. This is an example of our first Tasty Tuesday Announcements.

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Building Relationships from the Ground Up!

By Marcie Adame, Pathfinder Achievement Center, Garland ISD

Our mission at Pathfinder Achievement Center is to "Build Relationships." Because most of our students come to us in a state of "Fight or Flight," they have a difficult time connecting with peers and adults. At least 90% of our students are under Child Protection Services (CPS) and waiting for a permanent residence. They struggle with appropriate social behavior, anxiety, anger, and isolation.

As an advocate for community health and wellness, I am always exploring new ways to introduce individuals to activities... Read more

4th Annual Health Fair & Jam the Gym Night

By Beverly Wardwell, Lister Elementary, Garland ISD

The 4 th Annual Health Fair and Jam the Gym Night at Lister Elementary in Garland was held on Thursday, November 17. This event combines fun activities for parents to do with their children as well as opportunities for families to become aware of health resources in the community. Our hope is that families will have an increased awareness of activities that they can do at home as well as opportunities in their community/school for physical activities that are family focused. In addition, knowledge of nutrition will... Read more

FUEL UP TO PLAY 60 KICKOFF

By Anthony Attanasio, Nichols Elementary, Frisco ISD

We had a great opportunity to have Brandon Carr Defensive Back for the Dallas Cowboys and Rowdy the Dallas Cowboys mascot come to Nichols Elementary to kick off the Fuel Up to Play 60 program at our school. The Fuel Up to Play 60 program encourages youth to combine a diet of nutrient-rich foods with 60-minutes of activity every day. The American Heart Association recommends children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. We encourage students to get 30 minutes of activity a day here at school and encourage them... Read more

Exercise Equipment in the Classroom

By Nicholas Relle, McGowen Elementary, McKinney ISD

I wanted to give the students the ability to move instead of being stationary in the classroom. As an adult, I have problems sitting still in an hour-long faculty meeting; I can’t imagine sitting the entire day learning. With the help of HZS funding we were able to purchase 18 under the desk pedals and 22 exercise balls. The idea was to give students the ability to be active while also learning in their classroom.

The pedals were distributed amongst our 3 rd -5 th grade classes. Each class was given a set, unless they had... Read more

Creating Lasting Partnerships: Healthy Zone and Texas Instruments

By: Joey Cobb, Meadows Elementary, Plano ISD

Creating lasting community partnerships is key to the success of any school program. Thanks to the Healthy Zone School Recognition Program® we have built a great partnership with Texas Instruments. By utilizing the grant connections that Healthy Zone informs us about, most specifically United Way’s relationship with Texas Instruments, we were able to put in a substantial school garden at Meadows Elementary with 32 raised beds. However, this is an ongoing process and we are still trying to raise funds to fully complete it. Thanks to Texas... Read more