Schools Recognized for Providing Safe and Healthy Environments for Learning
Local schools achieved the third Annual LiveWell Schools Award - Group Shot
Accepting for Woodland Elementary are Special Education Teacher Abbye Dilling and Art Teacher Matthew Smith.
Media Specialist Thelma Bigsby accepts the award for Brook Glenn Elementary School.
Accepting for Grove are Principal Debbie Bauer and Instructional Coach Marie Havran.
PE Teacher Scott Eron and Title I Administrator Karen Fisher accept for Westcliffe Elementary.
Accepting for Riverside Middle are PE Teacher Cindy Heos and Principal Kate Malone.
Greer High Principal Marion Waters and PE Teacher Brian Green accept their award.
LiveWell Greenville, Safe Kids Upstate, and Greenville Health System partnered to host a celebration recognizing Safe and Healthy Schools in Greenville County. Forty-three local schools achieved the third Annual LiveWell Schools Award, which recognizes those schools taking strides to create a school where the healthy choice is the easy choice. Each school received a banner, plaque, and a $250 grant from Piedmont Health Foundation to support future healthy activities.
LiveWell Greenville also recognized four schools that are leading the pack in creating a healthier school environment: Westcliffe Elementary, Riverside Middle School, Greer High School, and Montessori School of Greenville. Each top award winner was presented with an additional $1,000 grant to spend on wellness efforts in their schools.
During the breakfast celebration, Catherine Puckett, LiveWell Greenville’s Schools Specialist, discussed the progress that has been made within Greenville County Schools over the past few years. All elementary and middle schools have adopted the Culinary Creations menu, which emphasizes consumption of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. In addition, all 85 Greenville County Schools have completed a health and wellness assessment, the School Health Index, and have set goals for physical activity and nutrition based on these results. Schools are also engaging their students in wellness efforts by letting them decide which healthy items are sold in school stores and holding 5k runs during the school day. There has also been an increased focus on staff wellness; many employees have participated in wellness challenges, implemented produce drop offs, and added physical activities during school time.
The LiveWell Healthy Schools Award is one component of the coalition’s Community Transformation Grant – Small Communities initiatives, which funds efforts to support schools and out of school time providers in creating healthier places for children to live, learn, and play.