April 21, 2005
LANSING - Over 26,000 Michigan students are experiencing healthier school environments through an innovative school collaborative with the Michigan departments of Education (MDE) and Community Health (MDCH).
The state awarded 47 schools with federally funded mini-grants from 1999-2004 to develop positive changes in their school health environments. Now state officials are encouraging every school to begin the process to create healthier schools, healthier students, and better learning.
“It is never too early to start encouraging our students to engage in healthy lifestyles,” said Michigan First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern, Vice Chair of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports. “Teaching young people to take care of themselves today, by eating the right foods and being physically active, will help them lead healthier, longer lives.”
The grants helped each school form a coordinated school health team (CSHT), complete the Healthy School Action Tool (HSAT), and make positive, healthy changes to their school environment. The idea is that schools can improve the health and academic performance of their students by forming coordinated school health teams which then generate plans designed to improve student, staff, and community healthy eating and physical activity.
“We strongly encourage all schools to establish these health teams; go online; and assess how healthy their school communities are and where they can improve,” said Interim State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jeremy Hughes. “Schools which have done this have experienced tremendous value and expect happy, healthy, and smarter children in return.”
Schools using the Action Tool, on average, made five “healthy” changes. The changes that they reported as most prevalent were “an increased awareness about the importance of offering healthy choices to students;” “school meals have improved;” and that “students have more nutrition education.”
“Helping children make healthy food choices is absolutely critical for keeping them focused in classrooms and learning the skills they will need to be responsible citizens,” said Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom, Michigan’s Surgeon General. “We know that children that eat a healthy breakfast - and continue to eat wisely throughout the day - do markedly better in school settings. Involving children in making those healthy food decisions is the best way to ensure that healthy lifestyle choices stay with them for the rest of their lives.”
Emerging research suggests an association between weight problems and lower academic achievement. Nearly 200 studies of the effectiveness of exercise on cognitive functioning found that regular physical activity supports better learning. Other recent studies found a significant relationship between academic achievement and fitness levels.
Schools around the state are feeling the impact. Some Kent County schools have formed health teams and used the Action Tool to now promote healthier foods in their cafeterias. They have introduced new items to the lunch lines such as oriental chicken and chicken caesar salads.
Northport and Leelanau Schools also have completed HSAT and have removed soda pop from vending machines, increased physical education hours, and implemented after-school programs. Grayling Middle School, implemented an eight-week, 10,000 step pedometer program and have plans to do more; and Cass City Schools has instituted a 24-7 tobacco-free policy.
Of the participating mini-grant schools, 95% of them were able to expand and sustain positive changes initiated from the grant. In addition to serving healthier food choices, the most common change made to school environments was increased physical activity, especially walking clubs.
Some schools reported making as many as 10 or more changes initiated with their grant money. These schools identified three key points in making so many changes.
1. Committed coordinated school health teams;
2. School administration was on board;
3. The initial focus was on small changes
To convene state school health champions and get more involved in this effort, MDE, MDCH and United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) organized the “Eat Healthy Play Hard = Smart Students” conference recently. Over 400 people attended the conference to hear how students will perform better academically if they are fit, healthy, and ready to learn.
Conference attendees represented teachers, principals, parents, food service directors, health department representatives, school nurses, school counselors, and 50 high school students.
This initiative is free to any school in Michigan that wishes to participate. To take part, schools need to designate a lead person who will convene the CSHT and implement HSAT. To download HSAT for free visit www.mihealthtools.org. This website shows schools how to get started and how they can get students fit, healthy, and ready to learn.
The schools that participated in the initiative are:
Lakeview Middle School, Battle Creek School District
Eastside Middle School, Bay City Public Schools
Morton Elementary, Benton Harbor Area Schools
Birch Run Area Schools
Cass City Middle School, Cass City Public Schools
Cassopolis Elementary, Cassopolis Public Schools
Centreville Elementary, Centerville Public Schools
Botsford Elementary, Clarenceville School District
William Beckham Academy, Detroit
Fleming Elementary, Detroit Public Schools
Boynton, Detroit Public Schools
Guyton Elementary, Detroit Public Schools
Courtis Elementary, Detroit Public Schools
Oakwood Middle School, East Detroit Public Schools
Cameron Elementary, Gladstone Area Schools
Oak Tree Elementary, Goodrich Area Schools
Reid Elementary Goodrich, Area Schools
Ottawa Hills High School, Grand Rapids Public Schools
Central High School, Grand Rapids Public Schools
Creston High School, Grand Rapids Public Schools
Hale Elementary & Middle School, Hale Area Schools
Iron Mountain School District, Iron Mountain High School
North Star Academy, Ishpeming Public School Academy
Gardner Middle School, Lansing School District
Lakeville Middle School, Lakeville Community Schools
Ludington High School, Ludington Area Schools
Lessenger Elementary, Madison Heights Lamphere Schools
Ellen G. Loftis School, Muskegon Heights Public Schools
Manchester High School, Manchester Community Schools
Pinehurst Elementary, Mt. Morris Consolidated Schools
Nah Tah Wahsh Public School Academy, Menominee County
Navigator Academy, Kalamazoo
Lessenger Elementary, Oak Park School District
Oakridge High School, Oakridge Public Schools - Muskegon
Webster Elementary, Pontiac School District
Will Rogers Elementary, Pontiac School District
Herrington Elementary, Pontiac School District
Whitman Elementary, Pontiac School District
Saugatuck High School, Saugatuck Public Schools- Douglas
Lincoln Elementary, South Haven Public Schools
South Lake High School, Southlake Schools
St. Louis High School, St. Louis Public Schools
E.B. Holman Elementary, Stanton Township Schools - Atlantic Mine
Truman High School., Taylor School District
East Junior High School, Traverse City Area Public Schools
Riverside Elementary, Waterford School District
Michigan Department of Education
www.michigan.gov/mde
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