Howard elementary schools will begin to include programs that promote health and safety as part of the Healthy Howard Initiative.
“This is good and especially by starting at the elementary schools,” said Mary Jane Barbato-Grauso, president of the PTA Council of Howard County.
“You get them when they?re young, so hopefully they?ll start habits they?ll continue throughout life.”
Samantha O?Neil, the Healthy Howard coordinator at the county heath department, agreed, saying, “We want to build a model public health community, and what better way to do this than within the schools.”
O?Neil and Linda Wise, assistant superintendent for school administration, unveiled the plan before a crowd of parents at the PTA meeting this week.
Healthy Schools is the school-based component of
Howard County?s Healthy Howard Initiative, which began in April as a six-phase initiative that encourages restaurants, schools and recreation programs to include healthy activities and products into residents? daily routines.
The Healthy Schools program will be recognized through Innovation Awards that will be given to schools demonstrating unique practices in nutrition, physical health, mental health and safety and environmental health, O?Neil said.
An example of such a program would be an innovative recycling program, she said.
Depending on what unique practices schools develop, the ideas in the initiative could be infused into the curriculum, Wise said.
Parents, teachers, principals, the PTA members and community members can nominate a school for this recognition.
All schools are required to submit two letters of support and an essay describing the project, O?Neil said.
The deadline for applications is Feb. 22 and one winner in the four different categories will be notified May 1, when it will be honored at an awards ceremony.
