By: Melanie Yamaguchi
Cheers coming from bleachers aside Castle
High School's athletic field Thursday were not only meant for elementary school
students racing toward the track's finish line at the annual Windward District
Fitness Meet, but were also for the district's public schools that promote such
physical activity and nutritional guidance in its curriculum.
Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui and representatives
from the state Departments of Health and Education awarded eight Windward
elementary schools for their work on improving the health and well-being of
their students. The schools achieved the highest scores in implementation of
the DOE's Wellness Guidelines required of all public schools in Hawaii.
"There's so much research now that says
that physical education and fitness plays a huge role in the ability to learn
so that's why we're here," said Lea Albert, the Windward district complex
area superintendent of the DOE. "We do this because we care about our
young people's health and well-being."
The Wellness Guidelines includes standards
for foods and beverages as well as goals for health education, physical education
and other activities in support of a healthy school environment. Implementation
is measured through an online survey called the Safety and Wellness Survey,
jointly administered by the DOE and DOH. The winning schools implemented at
least 90 percent of the Wellness Guidelines for the 2011-2012 school year. The
average score for all Hawaii public schools was about 78 percent.
"They set an example by being fit and
by making this part of their lifelong growth plan, their goals, the goals of
the statehood," Albert said.
Schools that received recognition include
Ahuimanu, Benjamin Parker, Heeia, Kaneohe, Kapunahala, Keolu, Laie and Blanche
Pope Elementary Schools. They are among 50 public schools in the state that
received awards and are eligible to apply for DOH grants of up to $8,000 per
school to support implementation of Wellness Guidelines for the 2013-2014
school year. A total of $160,000 will be available for schools.
The Excellence in Wellness Awards is part of
a larger effort by the DOE and DOH intended to improve overall health and
wellness in the schools in order to reach higher academic achievement.
"Part of our goal is to keep them fit
and to build a program that involves students from actually preschool all the
way up through college and career readiness," Albert said. "Physical
fitness and good health are the key to learning for us and they're the key to
making our society viable, our community viable, our nation viable."
Approximately 30 percent of Hawaii children
entering kindergarten are overweight or obese, according to the DOE, and
Hawaii's public schools have direct contact with more than 80 percent of the
state's children ages 5 through 17.
Lt. Gov. Tsutsui said partnerships and
collaboration, like the one between the DOE and DOH, are important in promoting
health and wellness at public schools across the state.
"I know that there's a lot of emphasis
right now in the curriculum on student achievement," he said. "But
really, I think student achievement and physical fitness does go hand in hand
and so these are the types of opportunities we're going to look at to really
try to enhance the student learning environment."
The following schools received Excellence in
Wellness Awards:
1. Ahuimanu Elementary
2. Aiea Intermediate
3. Aliamanu Middle
4. Aliiolani Elementary
5. Benjamin Parker Elementary
6. Blanche Pope Elementary
7. Ernest Bowen de Silva Elementary
8. Gustave H. Webling Elementary
9. Hahaione Elementary
10. Heeia Elementary
11. Henry J. Kaiser High
12. Highlands Intermediate
13. Honowai Elementary
14. Horace Meek Hickam Elementary
15. Kaewai Elementary
16. Kalihi-uka Elementary
17. Kaneohe Elementary
18. Kanoelani Elementary
19. Kapolei Elementary
20. Kapunahala Elementary
21. Keaukaha Elementary
22. Keolu Elementary
23. King Kaumualii Elementary
24. King Liholiho Elementary
25. King William Lunalilo Elementary
26. Kipapa Elementary
27. Kohala Elementary
28. Kula Kaiapuni O Anuenue
29. Laie Elementary
30. Linapuni Elementary
31. Manana Elementary
32. Mililani High
33. Mililani Mauka Elementary
34. Mililani Waena Elementary
35. Mountain View Elementary
36. Palisades Elementary
37. Pauoa Elementary
38. Pearl City Elementary
39. Pearl Harbor Elementary
40. Pearl Ridge Elementary
41. Prince David Kawananakoa Middle
42. Pukalani Elementary
43. Samuel K. Solomon Elementary
44. Samuel Wilder King Intermediate
45. Waiakea High
46. Waiakeawaena Elementary
47. Waiau Elementary
48. Waikiki Elementary
49. William McKinley High
50. William P. Jarrett Middle
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