This school year was a challenge but a very successful one. Alex Sanger Preparatory Middle School in Dallas ISD started doing a monthly mile challenge in January 2021. It started with 30 miles walking or running with some type of extra physical component (certain number of push-ups/sit-ups etc.). We finished with a few teachers and students reaching 150 miles but multiple students and staff with 100+ miles. This is great! We were able to motivate the staff and students with monthly prizes including smartwatches to help track their running! We are so grateful and thank you. Read more

I created the Joseph J. Rhoads Community Bike Club in Dallas ISD to help students, staff and family stay active during this COVID pandemic we are facing. We do 5 mile bike rides monthly as all can come together for a day of fellowship and mentoring. We have partnered with the Dallas Police Department in our effort as well as local radio stations to help spread awareness on the importance of staying physically active. Read more

It's Seed Day in the Garden! Volunteers and community members help our students plant their garden full of delicious food to eat during the spring and early summer. Science class is held outside all day! Students get their hands dirty while learning about life cycles, migration, composting, water collection, herbs, pollinators, and much more. It is definitely a seeds in the ground, STEAM in the garden, festival kind of day! Read more

We held our School Walk for Diabetes and Family Glow night! We were not able to do our 1 mile walk outside, so we moved it inside and walked the halls of the school before getting our healthy snack and grooving to the music! Read more

PM Akin Elementary PTA had their spring carnival this past week and Healthy Zone had a table for families to sample carrots and humus. It was a hit! We also put together an Easter basket with healthy Easter treat ideas and all the ingredients to make them. The basket was available at the silent auction. Read more

PM Akin Elementary started a garden club this year to help teach students that they can be active, as well as grow vegetables and enjoy nature. Students have had a blast learning about helpful critters in the garden, how to plant and care for flowers, how to harvest seeds from their salad vegetables, how to plan for spring flowers in the fall, and how to maintain flower beds and gardens all year. Read more

On Thursday, May 10, a special dinner was held at the Frontiers of Flight Museum, honoring this year’s Healthy Zone Schools and award winners.

The Cooper Institute ® and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas developed the Healthy Zone School Recognition Program in 2011, which uses evidence-based knowledge and best practices to assist schools in promoting healthy behaviors. This program honors schools for their healthy practices and assists schools in their efforts to provide healthier environments for students.

Today, there are 166 schools across 18 North Texas school... Read more

A partnership between United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and The Cooper Institute® developed to engage students to achieve better health and fitness, the Healthy Zone School Recognition Program is expanding to serve 166 North Texas schools this year. Championed by Dallas Cowboys Legend and United Way Annual Campaign Chairman Troy Aikman, the initiative has increased its reach to serve 110,000 local students since its inception in 2011.

“The Healthy Zone School program is the start of a great success story in overcoming childhood obesity, one of the most pressing health issues of our... Read more

At our campus we started an annual 5k. The 5k began as a finally to our Running Club. This year we invited all students and staff to be part of our celebration. We had a wonderful turn out of students, staff, and community members. Water, fruit, and a healthy snack was provided by PTA and local shops. Every participant received a finisher's ribbon and the top two finishers in each grade received a prize. We are looking forward to next years event! Read more

It was another successful year for the Healthy Zone School Recognition Program® in North Texas as more schools than ever took the next step in creating a culture of health and wellness within their community!

The 2016-2017 school year came to a close in celebration with the annual End of Year Banquet at Eddie Deen’s Ranch on May 10, 2017. The banquet is an opportunity to thank teachers for their dedication to making schools and communities healthy places to learn and live. The congratulatory event focused on honoring this year’s most outstanding schools and teachers, but also... Read more