"Health is Academic"

Five Star Food Grant

The MS Department of Education’s (MDE) Office of Healthy Schools has launched the “Health is Academic” initiative to promote health and wellness in Mississippi’s public schools.  Our goal is to support and promote nutrition and increased physical activity that impact student achievement.  In order to achieve this goal, school districts must develop, sustain and expand on positive changes in the school nutrition and physical activity environments in order to offer and promote healthy choices for students.  Schools have been identified as a key setting to address child health problems by providing many opportunities to engage children in healthy eating and physical activity and by reinforcing healthy diet and physical activity messages.  Through funding from The Bower Foundation, The Office of Healthy Schools has awarded 80 Mississippi Public Schools a “Health is Academic” ***** (Five Star) Foods Grant to purchase a Sectionizer and Slicer (and/or other equipment to fulfill goal of grant). The overall goal of this grant is to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables by preparing attractive service lines focusing on healthful choices and improving child nutrition images. The purpose of this grant is to enable schools to accomplish the following objectives:

1. To purchase the following equipment to improve fruit and vegetable preparation and presentation:           

a. Sectionizer (Sunkist Sectionizer 4 wedge and apple corer/wedger or like equipment            

b. Slicer (Edlund Slicer 350 Model with 3/16” and 3/8” blade assemblies)             

c. Other equipment as needed to fulfill goal of grant

2. To participate in training provided by Chef Cyndie Story and the MS Cooperative Extension Service

3. To implement at least one sustainable intervention

Grant Instructions

Media Release - March 08

                          May 08

                         

Nutrition Integrity Grant

The MS Department of Education’s (MDE) Office of Healthy Schools has launched the “Health is Academic” initiative to promote health and wellness in Mississippi’s public schools to help students be healthy, fit and ready to learn.  Our goal is to support and promote nutrition and increased physical activity that impact student achievement.  In order to achieve this goal, school districts must develop, sustain and expand on positive changes in the school nutrition and physical activity environments in order to offer and promote healthy choices for students.  Schools have been identified as a key setting to address child health problems by providing many opportunities to engage children in healthy eating and physical activity and by reinforcing healthy diet and physical activity messages.  Through funding from The Bower Foundation, the Office of Healthy Schools has awarded 20 Mississippi Public Schools  a “Health is Academic” Nutrition Integrity Grant to purchase Combination Oven Steamers.  The overall goal of this grant is to replace fat fryers in school kitchens thereby making a substantial difference in the number of calories and fat eaten by children at school.  Improving the nutritional quality of school meals will help students to become healthy, fit and ready to learn.

The purpose of this grant is to enable schools to accomplish the following objectives:     

1. To remove fryers and replace with Combination Oven Steamers to prepare similar foods

2. To promote and share information on the feasibility and cost of removing fryers and installing ovens

3. To eliminate fried foods for a period of five years

4. To provide healthier meals, by reducing the amount of calories, fat, saturated fat and trans fat served

Grant Instructions

Step By Step Guide "From Fryers to Ovens"

Media Release - May 08

                         

 

Committed to Move Grant

The MS Department of Education’s (MDE) Office of Healthy Schools has launched the “Health is Academic” initiative to promote health and wellness in Mississippi’s public schools.  Our goal is to support and promote nutrition and increased physical activity that impact student achievement.  In order to achieve this goal, school districts must develop, sustain and expand on positive changes in the school nutrition and physical activity environments in order to offer and promote healthy choices for students.  Schools have been identified as a key setting to address child health problems by providing many opportunities to engage children in healthy eating and physical activity and by reinforcing healthy diet and physical activity messages.  Through funding from The Bower Foundation, the Office of Healthy Schools awarded 25 Mississippi Public Schools  a “Health is Academic” Committed to Move – Quality Physical Education Program Grant to assist in complying with the MS Healthy Students Act.  The goal of this grant opportunity is to provide curriculum, training and resources based on the MS Standards for Physical Education to be taught by physical education teachers. 

Grant Instructions

Media Release - March 08

                          May 08

Committed to Move Publication

 

Health in Action

  Beginning in the Spring of 2008, the Mississippi Department of Education’s Office of Healthy Schools will be offering state educators “Health in Action” This resource will provide a comprehensive online collection of lesson plans and activities custom designed and field-tested for Physical Education and Health Education course needs. (Full Text)