Improving the health of our students is more than just a good idea or a nice gesture; it’s a crucial investment in the future of Mississippi. Our “Health is Academic” initiative is designed to ensure that all of our school children are fit, healthy and ready to succeed!

Take a look at how our schools are already working to improve the health of Mississippi’s students:

Healthy School Environment
Four additional water dispensers were installed throughout East Kemper Elementary to allow for easy access to water for students. Kemper County High added two new water fountains and renovated their old gymnasium to establish a fitness center.

Oak Grove Lower Elementary in DeSoto County now allows water bottles in the classrooms and no longer sells soft drinks, gum or candy to students or at school fundraisers. “When our children drink plenty of water, they think better and are more alert,” says Teresa Jenny, principal at Oak Grove Lower Elementary.

Health Education
The students, faculty and parents of Bayou View Elementary in the Gulfport School District participated in a “Wellness Wednesday” every week. Students researched healthy facts and foods, sampled nutritious snacks, participated in physical activity and learned about other important health choices.

At Van Winkle Elementary in the Jackson Public School District, the Junior League of Jackson provided monthly health education lessons to fourth graders. The classes taught students about good nutrition and exercise and encouraged them to share the information with their parents.

At Oak Grove Elementary in Lamar County, physical education instructors taught a six-week health and nutrition class, which included information about good eating habits, wellness, positive lifestyle choices and the importance of physical education.

Nutrition Services

Celebrating Mississippi Successes in Child Nutrition Programs

Moorhead Middle School in the Sunflower County School District improved the visual presentation of fruit and entrees in the school cafeteria as a means of encouraging healthy food selections.

New Albany Elementary saw an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption due to nutrition education and new marketing in the cafeteria.

Pearl Upper Elementary educated students and parents on the importance of having a good breakfast, making nutritious choices and choosing healthy snacks. They encouraged each student to eat a daily breakfast and kept charts on the wall of each classroom to track progress.

Health Services
Nurses from the University of Mississippi Medical Center provided a wellness program to all third graders at Johnson Elementary in the Jackson Public School District to teach students about the importance of exercise and good nutrition.

At Tunica Elementary a weekly fluoride rinse program was initiated for students in grades K-5, and an oral care program with toothbrushes were given to students in grades 1-2.

Physical Education
Charleston High School in East Tallahatchie built a Frisbee golf field to provide a fun and unique way for children to increase their physical activity. “The kids try to throw the Frisbees into the baskets,” says Stephanie Coker, the school nurse. “They love it! The equipment can be used both indoors and outside.”

At Kirkpatrick Elementary in the Clarksdale Municipal School District, children lost weight after participating in a “Walk Around the World” competition during recess and free time. Teachers observed that the exercise improved their students’ focus in classroom and helped decrease discipline problems.

Counseling, Psychological and Social Services
Sudduth Elementary School in the Starkville School District has adopted a special “Danger to Self or Others” preventive procedure. These staff training and reporting measures were adopted in response to the expression of suicidal thoughts by several young children. “Most people assume young children do not have these thoughts, but they are capable of having them and need to be taken seriously,” says school counselor Dawn Lowry. “This plan helps to prevent a potentially harmful situation.”

Family and Community Involvement
The Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service provides a short nutrition counseling tutorial at each monthly PTO meeting at Charleston Elementary in the East Tallahatchie School District.

The Amory Elementary School received a “Safe Routes to School” grant to make it easier and safer for more children to walk and bike to school. For more information on the Safe Routes initiative, go to www.gomdot.com/srts and www.saferoutesinfo.org.

Staff Wellness
The staff and faculty of Grenada Upper Elementary will be featured in the January 2008 issue of Weight Watchers Magazine for the brilliant example they set in losing a cumulative total of 916.5 pounds since last school year.

The staff lounge at Mileston Elementary in the Holmes County School District eliminated sodas from their vending machine, which now offers water, milk and juice to staff members.