School Wellness
Mississippi Healthy Students Act In the 2007 legislative session, the Mississippi Legislature passed the MS Healthy Students Act to support the undeniable relationship between the health of students and academic achievement by providing increased amounts of physical activity and health education instruction for K-12 students.
The Mississippi Department of Education/s Office of Child Nutrition and Office of Healthy Schools along with the Mississippi State Department of Health's Bureau of Community and School Health is pleased to host a workshop to help school districts implement quality coordinated school health programs. more information
Studies show physical activity and nutrition have a direct impact on a child’s academic achievement. Children who have a healthy, balanced diet and engage in regular physical activity perform better in school and on standardized achievement tests.
School Gardens - We use gardening as a vehicle for encouraging children to make good food choices, augmenting classroom studies with experiential learning, building a love of nature, stimulating social interaction, facilitating cultural exchange, and more.
the Edible Schoolyard New Orleans integrates organic gardening and seasonal cooking into the curricula, culture, and food programs at two public charter schools. ESY NOLA provides students with engaging hands-on learning experiences through weekly gardening and cooking classes and school-based seasonal events that promote the food traditions of New Orleans. Students in grades K-8 participate in lessons that reinforce classroom coursework and core subjects (science, social studies, language, and math). At the Edible Schoolyard, the garden and kitchen are interactive venues where textbook lessons come to life.
The Mississippi Community Education Center (MCEC) is a non-profit 501 ( c ) 3 organization designed to provide schools, communities and families with educational services and training programs on a state-wide basis.
Given the severity of the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States, turning the tide is a challenge that requires tremendous vision and coordination. As communities across the nation consider new policies that support physical activity and increased access to healthier foods, legal and policy research and tools will be essential. By empowering community-based change agents with resources that are legally sound, practical and accessible, NPLAN will play an important role within the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s historic and ambitious effort to reverse the obesity epidemic by 2015. The interactive Healthy Community Map will help you find resouces that can make positive changes in your community.
HealthCorps®, a proactive health movement founded by heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, is fighting the obesity and mental resilience crisis by getting American students and communities across the country to take charge of their health
According to the CDC, student physical activity may help improve academic performance including academic achievement (e.g., grades, standardized test scores); academic behavior (e.g., on-task behavior, attendance); and related factors (e.g. concentration, attention, improved classroom behavior). This report is a literature review that examines the existing research on the relationship between school-based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance.
The Journal of School Health published a research article in April 2008 that demonstrated an association between diet quality and academic performance. The study identified specific dietary factors that contribute to this association. Additionally, this research supports the broader implementation and investment in effective school nutrition programs that have the potential to improve student access to healthy food choices, diet quality, academic performance, and, over the long term, health.
Action for Healthy Kids, a nonprofit organization combating childhood obesity on the national level, cites kids spend http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/addressing-the-issue/healthy-kids-ready-learners/ 1,000 hours per year in schools. Schools can serve as the “great equalizer” across economic, racial and social differences. Ideally, they provide a level playing field where kids can learn lifelong habits that will help them be healthy. Schools are also a critical connection point for parents, families and communities, all of which play important roles in helping children learn good nutrition and how to be active.
Schools are powerful places to shape the health, education and well-being of our children. That is why the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's Healthy Schools Program supports more than 9,000 schools across the U.S. in their efforts to create environments where physical activity and healthy eating are accessible and encouraged.
Farm to School connects schools (K-12) and local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing agriculture, health and nutrition education opportunities, and supporting local and regional farmers.
Hunger Free Kids Act - Let's Move The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is a significant step forward in our effort to help America's children thrive and grow to be healthy adults. More kids will have access to healthy, balanced, nutritious school lunches. By increasing the number of students eligible to enroll in school meal programs and improving the quality of food served, this legislation simultaneously tackles both hunger and the obesity levels currently affecting too many communities across this nation.
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