Seven South Carolina public schools have received Healthy Schools Awards for their efforts to promote healthy behaviors among students and staff.
The South Carolina Healthy Schools Awards are a joint effort of the State Department of Education, the Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Healthy Schools Healthy South Carolina Network. The awards are given to schools that demonstrate a coordinated team approach to improving student health and provide evidence of achieving best practices.
“There is a growing emphasis on physical activity and well-rounded nutrition in South Carolina schools,” said State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum. “Educators recognize the link between learning and healthy behaviors, a link that is stressed in this year’s winning schools. They will be models for educators statewide who are looking for creative and effective ways to combat obesity, reduce medical costs and ultimately help students perform better in school and live healthier lives.”
The Healthy Schools program acknowledges that there is no one-size- fits-all model that works for every school or community. The composition of a Healthy School is largely determined by the unique characteristics of the school and the community.
“Each award reflects a school’s and a community’s commitment to all aspects of health and a healthy environment, not only at school, but throughout their communities as well,” said DHEC Commissioner C. Earl Hunter.
Doby’s Mill Elementary School in Kershaw County met all eight school health components. Meeting seven of the eight components were Anderson Mill Elementary School in Spartanburg District 6 and Pendleton Elementary School in Anderson District 4.
Other winners were Northside Elementary School in Rock Hill District 3 (six components); Belton Middle School in Anderson District 2 and Anderson County Alternative School (five components); and C.A. Taylor Elementary School in Lexington District 2 (four components).
To be named a Healthy School, schools must demonstrate a coordinated team approach to improving student health and provide evidence of achieving best practices in at least one component of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Adolescent and School Health Eight-Component model of Coordinated School Health. The components are: family and community involvement; skills-based health education; health services; healthy and safe environment; physical education and activity; nutrition; guidance, psychological and social services; and staff wellness.
Any public or private school serving grades K-12 is eligible to apply for the healthy school awards. Winners receive banners depicting the components in which they have won recognition for outstanding efforts. For more information, visit
http://ed.sc.gov/agency/offices/ace/healthyschools/awards.html