All Hopkins Elementary Schools Receive Healthy Schools Award

Editor’s Note: The following announcement comes from Hopkins Public Schools.

All six Hopkins elementary schools have received the HUSSC (Healthier U.S. School Challenge) Bronze Award. This certification recognizes schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program and have created healthier school environments through promotion of nutrition and physical activity.
Hopkins joins just 18 school districts across the state that have earned this honor by making a commitment to healthy schools.

To qualify for the award, Hopkins Public Schools has adopted the following beliefs into its elementary schools:

• Good nutrition and physical activity are essential to our children's physical and emotional health, which leads to educational success
•  Programs must build upon the best science, education, communication and technical resources available
• School, parent and community teamwork is essential to encouraging children to make food and physical activity choices for a healthy lifestyle
• It is critical to stimulate and support education and action at the national, state and local levels to help all children develop healthy eating and physical activity behaviors.

In February 2010, First Lady Michelle Obama introduced Let's Move!, incorporating the Healthier US School Challenge into her campaign to raise a healthier generation of kids. To date, HUSSC awards have been given to schools in 49 states and the District of Columbia and, as of February 25, 2013, there are 5,411 schools certified. Many schools find that applying for the Challenge is a valuable learning process that helps their school wellness team focus on areas needing improvement.