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Health and Fitness

Healthy ideas to inspire from the winning entries for the Building Bridges for Health Award

2008
THE GREAT RACE: Brookside Elementary School PTA, Oak Park Unified School District

The Focus: Promoting healthy lifestyles throughout the PTA year.

The activities:

  • Worked with the Dole Great Race of Agoura Hills – one of the top 10K races in the country, according to Runner’s World magazine – and used the race as a theme for the PTA year.
  • Garnered the largest share of proceeds donated from the race to schools in Agoura Hills, because of the PTA’s support of the event.
  • Tied local fundraisers to the nationally recognized race under its umbrella program, Road to Fitness (RTF).
  • Held a community-sponsored RTF Jog-A-Thon that led students through a rigorous program to be “health and fitness warriors” and raised $15,000.
  • Paid for a PE instructor and playground equipment.
  • Pushed for clean drinking water after learning pipes in the 30-year-old school needed replacing.
  • Expanded the clean water effort to the community and the state with the formation of Conejo Citizens for Safe Drinking Water.

2008
NUTRITION KNOW-HOW: Harbor Council PTA, Newport Mesa Unified School District

The Focus: Improving nutrition of campus food offerings.

The Council:

  • Participated at every level of school district decision-making.
  • Helped form the district Coordinated Fitness, Nutrition and Health Advisory Council Committee, which is made up of PTA representatives, principals, school district trustees, and community health authorities.

Results:

  • Schools have produce carts and produce bars at lunch.Lesson plans from the Network of a Healthy California are provided to qualified sites.
  • A high school program, SNAC (Student Nutrition Advocacy Club), meets weekly to provide input on menus.Some elementary schools nurture their own gardens.Students participate in Spirit Runs, the largest attracting 5,000 participants.

2008
DENTAL SERVICES: 31st District PTSA, Los Angeles Unified School District

The Goal: Dental services for students, despite the closure of its dental clinic.

Activities:

  • Teamed with another clinic to provide service.
  • Offered free dental screenings to kindergartners.
  • Created the Thirty-First District Tooth Fairy (in costume), who provided dental education at Title I schools to parents.
  • Found grants and donations to fund the Dental Hygiene Education Prevention Program, which teaches nutrition, tooth brushing, and the importance of strong baby teeth to health and future smiles.

Success: These high profile programs in the San Fernando Valley mean Thirty-First District representatives are often invited to sit on area health advisory committees.