Healthy School Communities Award honours two local recipients:
St. Patricks School Wellness Committee and Prairie Rose School Division No. 8
The Healthy School Communities Award honours individuals and organizations for their work to encourage healthy lifestyles among children and youth. The program also promotes best practices in creating healthy school communities by health authorities, school authorities, schools, communities, businesses and individuals.
In its first year, the Healthy School Communities Award received 74 nominations from across the province for initiatives that address healthy eating, physical activity and mental well-being within school communities. Our region was lucky enough to have two nominations receive awards, St. Pat's School Wellness Committee and Prairie Rose Division No. 8.
Thirty one submissions were received in the category for individuals or groups of parents, teachers of children or youth; 38 were for non-profit, community associations or municipal organizations and five were for school or health authorities.
The Healthy School Communities Award was launched in September 2006 as part of an $18-million provincial program to promote better health for children and youth.
Improving the health of children and youth supports Premier Stelmach's plan to improve Albertans' quality of life. Other priorities for the government are to: govern with integrity and transparency, manage growth pressures, build a stronger Alberta and provide safe and secure communities.
St. Patrick's Elementary School Wellness Committee was a recipient of a Healthy School Communities Award in the category of - Individuals or groups of parents, teachers or children and youth. St. Patrick's Elementary School serves about 370 kindergarten to Grade 4 students in Medicine Hat.
Program achievements include removal of carbonated beverages and unhealthy lunch options from the school, introduction of a hot and healthy lunch program, introduction of a Walking School Bus program, operation of a Family Fit program and a "Taking Action Against Bullying" pilot project.
Prairie Rose School Division No. 8 was a recipient of a Healthy School Communities Award in the category of - School or Health Authorities. The Prairie Rose School Division No. 8 serves a large school district in southeastern Alberta.
Program achievements include district-wide school health and wellness policies and the identification of lead teachers who act as champions of health and wellness in areas that require special expertise.
To view complete story click here: http://www.alberta.ca/acn/200706/21590F89300A6-EF73-6627-750ECBE46AF92263.html
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