Healthy Schools

In April 2007, Howard County launched the Healthy Howard Initiative, a six phase initiative that encourages institutions including restaurants, schools, workplaces, and recreation programs to incorporate healthy activities and healthy products into the lives of County residents. Healthy Howard is strengthened by participation and collaboration with the public and private sectors.

Recognizing that schools are an integral part of our children’s development as well as an invaluable asset to parents and the community, Healthy Schools was developed to recognize schools that have displayed extraordinary commitment in the areas of Nutrition, Physical Activity/Health, Mental Health, and Safety/Environmental Health.

For the first year of the initiative, Healthy Schools focuses at the elementary school level.

Healthy Schools is developed by the Howard County Health Department (HCHD) based on local and national best practices. In addition, HCHD has collaborated with the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS), School Health Council, Howard County Board of Education, PTA Council of Howard County, and the Howard County Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition.

Congratulations to the 12 Howard County public and private schools that were recognized at the 1st Annual Healthy Schools Ceremony. Each school that applied met the Healthy Schools checklist which includes the policies and procedures that every school in Howard County must comply with, including physical activity, nutrition, mental health, environmental health, and safety requirements.

In addition to meeting the Healthy Schools checklist, each school also submitted an application for the Innovation Award in: physical activity, nutrition, mental health, and/or safety/environmental health. These school programs reflect the strides parents, administrators, teachers, and students are taking to strengthen and advance health and wellness practices at a school system level.

Twelve active community members in Howard County deliberated and determined the Innovation Award winners based on: the level of the program’s innovation, involvement of community; how the program serves as a model; if the program achieves its stated goals; and does the program achieve larger school goals.

To view HCPSS policies and procedures, please visit: http://www.hcpss.org/board/policies/policies_9000.shtml

To view the Healthy Schools application, please view:
Healthy Schools Innovation Award


The 2008 Healthy Schools are:

• Thunder Hill Elementary School (Fit ‘N’ Fun Night)
• Hollifield Station Elementary School (Recess Before Lunch and Therapeutic Yoga for Teachers)
• Bellows Spring Elementary School (Chasing Cheetahs)
• St. Augustine School (Fit Club and Character Counts!)
• Guilford Elementary School (Turkey Trot 1-mi Run, Miler Club, Fitness Focus; Bigs in School, Omega Psi Phi Mentoring Program)
• St. John’s Lane Elementary School (Walking Wednesdays, Turkey Trot Fun Run/Walk)
• Manor Woods Elementary School (Recess Walking Program)
• Pointers Run Elementary School (Dance Dance Revolution)
• Hammond Elementary School (Indoor/Outdoor Recess Fun Day)
• Clemens Crossing Elementary School (Pumpkin Run/Walk)
• Rockburn Elementary School (Safety & Health Expo)
• Bushy Park Elementary School (Riparian Forest Buffer)

The Innovation Award Winners are:

Nutrition and Mental Health:
Hollifield Station—Recess Before Lunch and Therapeutic Yoga for Teachers

Physical Activity:
Guilford—Turkey Trot 1-mi Run, Miler Club, Fitness Focus

Safety/Environmental Health:
Rockburn—Safety & Health Expo