Whitney M. Young Jr. Elementary School 15 Wins National Healthy Schools Silver Award

Learning how to be healthy is a part of the culture at Whitney M. Young Jr. Elementary School. All students are exposed to different ways to be active including flag football, a walking club, cheerleading, dance and jump rope during the school’s morning physical education program. Seasonal events provide even more opportunities to be active, such as the cupid shuffle on Valentine’s Day, the “Thriller” dance on Halloween, and the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart event throughout February. Students learn about nutrition through a farm-to-school project and visits to the school’s vegetable garden. Teachers are committed to serving as healthy role models and teaching students how to make healthy choices. To make sure the healthy habits at school are continued at home, the school frequently communicates healthy tips to parents outside of school. “The most significant change we made to the wellness policy is the exchange of information between school and parents,” said Physical Education Teacher Lois E. Joyce. The school’s efforts to educate students about a healthy lifestyle are leading to a healthier generation. “The students are taking an active role in their own health,” Joyce said.