A Prince William County elementary school has been recognized nationally for taking a strong proactive stance when it comes to its students’ health.
Springwoods Elementary was selected by Health magazine as one of the five healthiest elementary schools of 2010.
Editor Ellen Kunes said that Health worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to “identify five schools that have found innovative ways to incorporate nutrition, physical activity, and healthier lifestyles into their school environment.”
Springwoods was selected based on its “95210” principle, encouraging students to:
> Sleep nine hours a night.
> Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
> Enjoy a daily maximum of two hours of screen time with a computer or TV.
> Participate in one hour of exercise a day.
> Resist consuming sugary drinks.
Out of 814 schools that participated in the USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge, Health selected the top five schools to showcase.
“Springwoods represents the kind of work that we’re doing in all of our schools,” said Irene Cromer, supervisor of community relations for Prince William County Public Schools. “It models the best practices in school nutrition and physical activity.”
Springwoods principal Ginnie Ripperger said she was honored for the recognition, attributing the school’s success to involved parents who make good choices for their children and the addition of after-school programs to encourage exercise.
Health magazine also highlighted Springwoods’s Nutri-Cafe, a “virtual cafeteria” that allows parents and students to plan meals and compare the servings with the USDA-recommended daily amounts.
“Parents or students can select what they want to eat for lunch and they make good, healthy choices at school and at home,” Cromer said, adding that parents and students have both been responsive in using the online meal tool.
Serena Suthers, director of School Food and Nutrition Services for Prince William County Public Schools, said the virtual cafeteria was created about a year-and-half ago and helps instill healthy choices.
“There’s more of a focus on health and nutrition than there’s ever been before,” Suthers said. “Now it’s a focus throughout the whole school environment.”
Other schools selected were Sublette Elementary in Kansas, Gooding Elementary in Idaho, Wilsonville Elementary in Alabama and Jackson Annex Elementary in New York.
