Matanzas High School Earns Bronze by Creating a Healthier Environment

The Alliance’s Healthy Schools Program helps schools improve access to healthier foods; increase physical activity opportunities before, during and after the school day; enhance nutrition education; and establish staff wellness programs to build a healthier school environment. The Healthy Schools Program recognizes schools that succeed in addressing these areas at the Bronze, Silver, and Gold level. Matanzas High School in Palm Coast, FL received the National Healthy Schools Bronze Award in 2014.

The Healthy Schools Program gave us a huge guideline to follow to see what we were already doing to be healthy and increase physical activity, while giving us the push in areas we needed to step-up what we were doing at our school,” said physical education teacher Sara Novak. Since joining the program, Matanzas High School has swapped all food and beverages in vending machines with healthier versions that meet new nutrition standards, offered afterschool fitness programs for students such as fencing and fishing, and hosted a bike to work day for faculty and staff, to name a few. The school strives to continue its efforts and earn the Silver Recognition Award next year.