More and more students at Hollifield Station Elementary School were complaining of stomach aches, prompting school officials to rethink lunchtime.
A simple switch to holding recess before lunch, rather than after the children ate, solved the problem and has earned the Ellicott City school recognition under Howard?s Healthy Schools initiative.
“This is a common sense approach to making the kids healthier and having them digest more,” said Dr. Peter Beilenson, Howard?s health officer.
Hollifield Station is one of three schools recognized Wednesday night for their programs through Healthy Schools, the school-based component of the county?s Healthy Howard program, which began in April as a six-phase initiative that encourages healthy activities and products.
The schools were given Innovation Awards in four areas: Nutrition, physical health, mental health and safety/environmental health.
Hollifield Stationalso was recognized for starting a therapeutic yoga program for teachers.
At Rockburn Elementary School, school officials hosted a Safety and Health Expo, bringing fire, police and other resources together at the school, earning them an award for safety/environmental health.
“As a community, we gathered them in one location to provide parents and children with all kinds of safety information,” said Principal Heidi Balter.
Guilford Elementary School was honored for holding an annual one-mile run and a monthly program where students track their physical fitness. The school also started a Miler Club to encourage walking and running laps around the gym or field.
Twelve students submitted applications highlighting programs such as incorporating the video game “Dance Dance Revolution” to building forest buffers, said Samantha O?Neil, Healthy Howard coordinator at the health department.
Next year, health department officials plan to expand into middle schools, O?Neil said.
