Building a Healthier Polk 3 Year Summary | Page 5

YEAR ONE: 1. Provided professional development opportunities by hosting best-selling author Dr. John Ratey, author of Spark: The Revolutionary New INTRODUCTION Science of Exercise The School-Age Based presented his research Strategy focused on fully implemented school wellness programs and physical education policies. It also worked to raise awareness of the positive correlation between wellness and student academic achievement and promoting efforts made within the school system. and the Brain. Dr. Ratey showing the positive correlation between wellness and student academic achievement to education stakeholders. 2. This strategy group cohosted a communitywide health fair promoting physical activity and healthy eating to families and community stakeholders. Over 1100 community members attended. 3. The school district purchased Fitnessgram site licenses for schools throughout Polk. Fitnessgram is a criterionbased physical assessment of students health related fitness. The Fitnessgram program aides the teachers in preparing fitness assessment reports that will communicate to the parents the fitness levels of their children. The Fitnessgram report includes BMI, aerobic capacity, flexibility, muscular strength and endurance. 4. All elementary schools were encouraged to create school-based wellness councils to address the eight components of the Coordinated School Health Model. 5