Olde Providence Elementary School Wins National Healthy Schools Silver Award

A typical week at Olde Providence Elementary School is packed with opportunities for physical activity. Every day, students enjoy twenty minutes of recess, ten minutes of walking or jogging, and teacher-led movement breaks in the classroom. The children also participate in a number of after-school programs – Soccer Shots, Girls on the Run, and Let Me Run, just to name a few – as well as a weekly walk-to-school day. In the cafeteria, all competitive food offerings align with the USDA’s Smart Snacks in School standards. To spread the enthusiasm for practicing healthy habits, the school also hosted a number of wellness events, such as an inter-school staff kickball game and a staff wellness day with salsa dancing. During the school-sponsored health week in January, students and parents wrote healthy resolutions and the entire third grade made and enjoyed kale salads. With the help of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Olde Providence will continue to strive for its mission of building a healthier school environment. “Using the Healthy Schools Program is the best way to make lasting changes to a school health culture. It brings folks together, and keeps them on the same page moving forward as people come and go,” said Kate Uslan, a parent in the district. She continued, “Without the infrastructure provided by the Healthy Schools Program, we would have to start from the beginning each year rather than building on the progress from last year.”