Castillo calls for applications for the Oregon School Wellness Award

For immediate release
contact Susanne Smith, (503) 947-5637

December 16, 2009

Castillo calls for applications for the Oregon School Wellness Award

Applications due January 22, 2009

SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that the Oregon Department of Education will recognize schools that effectively implement their district’s wellness policy to promote student health by presenting the Oregon School Wellness Awards. The deadline for application submission is 5 p.m. on Friday, January 22, 2010.

This is the third year of the Oregon School Wellness Awards. The schools chosen to receive the Oregon School Wellness Awards will receive a cash prize, certificate of recognition, banner, and serve as an example for the entire state. The application and additional information for this award can be found at: www.ode.state.or.us/services/nutrition under the “Wellness” link in the Associated Topic area.

“Supporting kids’ achievements and addressing health issues including physical activity and nutrition can greatly improve their ability to learn,” Castillo said. “Schools that recognize the link between health and education and have taken action benefit from more positive and alert students, reduced school absenteeism, and improved student performance and test scores.”

School Wellness Policies are required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture from school districts receiving federally-funded school meals. These School wellness policies set goals for school-based activities that promote healthy eating, daily physical activity, and other wellness behaviors. Individual schools must implement the district policy, but can also go beyond the policy to improve student health.

Criteria of Selection for the Oregon School Wellness Award:

• School implements each required element of Wellness Policy
• School demonstrates innovation or creativity in implementing components of Wellness Policy.
• School has a detailed plan for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the district’s Wellness Policy.
o Identify areas for improvement;
o Identify indicators for each policy component to show whether the plan is working;
o Re-assess at least annually;
o Identify a coordinator who will ensure measurement and evaluation;
o School has a sustainability policy that will grow and change as a result of continuous evaluation and feedback.

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Susan Castillo, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Jake Weigler, Communications Director, Telephone (503) 947-5650
http://www.ode.state.or.us

Oregon Department of Education News Releases contain information that was originally released to the press as an official release. Refer to each News Release for the details.