IU1 Educational Campus at Clark Awarded Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge Grant
The Intermediate Unit 1 Educational Campus at Clark (The Washington County Alternative School) has been awarded a Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge grant of $10,000 to implement the “Every Day Activities” program aimed to address the growing issue of physical activity. Studies illustrate that the health habits children develop at a young age will continue with them through adulthood and the grant will support the IU1 at Clark's efforts in introducing programs that will ultimately create healthier, more successful students.
The IU1 Campus at Clark will be using the grant to purchase a Dance Revolution game system, as well as game bikes and a Wii Fit system to be used daily by students in order for them to be active at least 30 minutes each day at school. The program is expected to reach 100 students in grades 8–12.
“We recognize the importance of providing our students with the resources that will encourage them to adopt healthy habits,” said Craig Hummell, Principal. “The grant will allow us to provide students with the added benefit of more physical activity, with the goals of a decrease in BMI and blood pressure, and an increase in physical endurance.” Oversight of the program will be provided by the school's nurse, Mrs. Terri Michael.
About Highmark Healthy High 5
Since 2007, the Highmark Foundation, through the Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge, has awarded a total of $3.5 million in grants to 496 schools in 47 counties across Pennsylvania for programs that address bullying prevention and self-esteem, improve nutrition education, enhance nutrition choices, and provide opportunities for physical activity.
“The Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge Grant Program is geared toward helping schools address their unique health and wellness challenges,” said Yvonne Cook, president of the Highmark Foundation. “This grant provides the IU1 at Clark with the resources and tools to implement an innovative program that will help their students establish lifelong, healthy habits.”
Highmark Healthy High 5 is a five-year, $100 million children's health promotion initiative of the Highmark Foundation. The mission of the initiative is to improve the health of children and adolescents ages 6–18 by providing them with the tools and practices needed to make informed decisions about living healthier lives. Highmark Healthy High 5 addresses five critical children's health promotion issues — nutrition, physical activity, self-esteem, grieving, and bullying prevention — by raising awareness, changing behavior through grants and programs, and providing resources to parents, schools and communities served by the Highmark Foundation. For more information, visit http://www.highmarkhealthyhigh5.org or call 800-789-1726.
