HealthyZoneSchools in the News!

Arapaho Classical Magnet Recognized as Healthy Zone School

Watch Fighting Childhood Obesity event video

RICHARDSON (CBS 11 NEWS)September 4, 2012 – School districts strapped for cash are finding creative ways to fight childhood obesity. United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and The Cooper Institute are honoring schools in North Texas by offering incentives to tackle the growing epidemic.

Forty-percent of school children in Texas are overweight or obese.

“Research now supports the link between physical fitness and classroom success,” United Way CEO Jennifer Sampson explained. “With children in school seven hours a day, five days a week, it’s vital to shape an environment to move them toward both physical and academic success.”

The program is called Healthy Zone. It provides teachers with approximately $8,000 in funding for educational tools and physical education equipment to create fun ways to stay in shape–and get kids active. Schools selected also receive nutritional training to improve food choices in the cafeterias.

“We can’t just rely on fitness,” said Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper. “Fitness alone is not going to solve the obesity problem we have with our American children and American adults. It has to be a combination of proper nutrition and exercise.”

The program kicked off in North Texas last year with 12 schools. It was such a success, 20 new schools are on board this year. Read more

The Cooper Institute and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas are proud to announce 20 new schools!

Healthy Zone Schools

• Arapaho Classical Magnet – Richardson ISD (promoted in 2012)
• Bowie Elementary – Dallas ISD (promoted in 2012)
• Bethany Elementary – Plano ISD
• Burks Elementary – McKinney ISD
• Chandler Elementary – Allen ISD
• Malvern Elementary – McKinney ISD (promoted in 2012)
• Marion Elementary – Allen ISD (promoted in 2012)
• Minshew Elementary – McKinney ISD - new in 2012
• Shands Elementary – Mesquite ISD - new in 2012
• Puster Elementary – Lovejoy ISD – new in 2012
• Roy Lee Walker Elementary - McKinney ISD - new in 2012

Healthy Zone Schools - In Training

• Anderson Elementary – Frisco ISD
• Florence Black Elementary – Mesquite ISD - new in 2012
• Felix G. Botello – Dallas ISD - new in 2012
• Caldwell Elementary – McKinney ISD
• Central Elementary – Dallas ISD - new in 2012
• Dealey Montessori – Dallas ISD
• Finch Elementary – McKinney ISD - new in 2012
• Grace Hartman Elementary – Rockwall ISD - new in 2012
• M.B. Henderson Elementary – Dallas ISD - new in 2012
• Jackson Elementary – Plano ISD
• Dorris A. Jones – Rockwall ISD - new in 2012
• McClure Elementary – McKinney ISD - new in 2012
• Kimberlin Academy of Excellence – Garland ISD - new in 2012
• Lake Ridge Elementary – Cedar Hill ISD - new in 2012
• I.N. Range Elementary – Mesquite ISD - new in 2012
• Rasor Elementary – Plano ISD
• Sudie L. Williams – Dallas ISD - new in 2012
• Thomas Elementary – Plano ISD - new in 2012
• J. R. Thompson Elementary – Mesquite ISD - new in 2012
• Utley Middle School – Rockwall ISD - new in 2012
• Wolford Elementary – McKinney ISD - new in 2012

United Way & Cooper Institute Name First Healthy Zone School

Troy Aikman Recognized McKinney’s Burks Elementary... video

On Tuesday, March 22, 2011, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and The Cooper Institute announced the selection of Nell Burks Elementary in McKinney as the first school to become part of the Healthy Zone School Recognition Program, an innovative initiative aimed at fighting childhood obesity. Pro Football Hall of Famer and Television Sportscaster Troy Aikman presented the school principal and a group of students with an autographed Healthy Zone School Recognition Award during a brief ceremony. Students presented Aikman with artwork representative of their commitment to health and physical fitness. Aikman will co-chair the Healthy Zone School Recognition Program Advisory Council with world-renowned fitness expert Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H.

The two-tier Healthy Zone School program offers training and financial assistance to schools to create healthier environments and recognizes schools that have already become healthy zones. As the first Healthy Zone School, Burks will receive funding and support to fully implement healthy practices on its campus and engage the surrounding community. The school will receive teacher fitness and nutrition training along with funding for physical education equipment, health promotions and parent education tools.

Additional public, private and charter schools interested in being part of the Healthy Zone School Recognition Program can apply online. The six-year initiative will serve 70 schools, impacting over 25,000 students and their families by the end of its final year.