2017 Healthy School Champions | Page 21

BEATTIE ELEMENTARY POUDRE R-1
CAÑON CITY RE-1
COTOPAXI RE-3
DENVER SCHOOL OF THE ARTS DENVER COUNTY 1

BEATTIE ELEMENTARY POUDRE R-1

An innovative district employee wellness program rewarded staff with financial incentives for making responsible health choices . Staff that earned 50 points by completing tasks received a $ 50 dollar award . Fitbits were purchased for staff which helped increase participation . The wellness team presented information on personal water intake and the health benefits of hydration , and two hydration stations were purchased and installed over the summer . The wellness committee and the school principal provided funding . Wristbands were purchased to help staff track water consumption . Beattie won the “ Staff Schools on the Move Challenge ” for three years in a row .

CAÑON CITY RE-1

The district superintendent promoted health and wellness efforts by sending out email messages to staff — for example , a letter asking for participation in the American Heart Association District Heart Challenge . The superintendent modeled healthy behavior by riding a cruiser bike to and from schools , and encouraged staff to walk and ride as well . Building-level staff was encouraged to include the comprehensive district level wellness policy in student handbooks as well as send letters to parents to describe the culture of wellness evident daily in each school building and throughout the entire district .

COTOPAXI RE-3

Cotopaxi placed an emphasis on district data , tracking attendance , recess minutes , behavior referrals , PE minutes , brain breaks , attendance at events that extend the school day , and staff wellness participation . It administered a wellness survey to parents , students , and staff . Along with these data , the district completed Smart Source and the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey . A Wellness Sustainability Committee analyzed data to draw trend conclusions and create strategic goals .

DENVER SCHOOL OF THE ARTS DENVER COUNTY 1

Denver School of the Arts set school health as a priority . Staff were given resources to incorporate daily physical activity and mental health exercises in the classroom . They saw an increase in the number of teachers implementing the practices ; for example , middle school teachers did mindfulness exercises , “ brain breaks ” and used fit-sticks to give students a specific physical activity and / or task to do . Since many younger students struggled to stay focused for long periods of time in academic courses , the breaks provided both incentives for paying attention and opportunities to exert positive energy .

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