Kansas Coordinated School Health
DISTRICT HEALTH COUNCIL
The USD 247 District Health Council was formed last year to promote student, employee, and family wellness in our communities. Our members represent staff, students, and parents from all four schools, and we meet three or four times during the school year. We applied for, and received, a grant from the Coordinated School Health Program with the state of Kansas. This past year the grant focused on staff wellness, healthy snacks and concession sales, and the distribution of health information throughout our school district.
Thanks to the grant, we were able to provide pedometers to all USD 247 employees. We are encouraging all staff to increase their walking each day. We learned that to maintain weight, we can set a goal of 10,000 steps per day. To lose weight, we need to walk more steps each day.
The second part of our grant involved collecting and distributing health information via the district web site and school newsletters. The topics included information on immunizations, head lice, body mass index, and more.
We will also conduct healthy food fairs that provide the students opportunities to taste and rate their preference for a variety of healthy foods. The FCCLA has already provided healthy snacks for some students.
Our concession stands and snack sales within the district have been modified to include more healthy choices. New choices included fresh fruit, yogurt, and applesauce. We will continue to gradually provide healthy choices.
If you have questions, suggestions, or concerns, please let us know.
Debbie Clawson
District Health Council
