Two elementary schools in the Taylor School
District – Holland and McDowell – have been selected to participate in the
2013-14 Building Healthy Communities program in partnership with Blue Cross
Blue Shield of Michigan, the Michigan Fitness Foundation, the United Diary
Industry of Michigan, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University.
The program aims to establish healthy lifestyles
among school children and create healthy environments. The program educates
students through classroom lessons, creates an environment that makes healthy
choice the easy choice, encourages students to practice lessons learned,
provides opportunities for physical activity during and after school, and
improves access to healthy food and beverages for students.
Participating in the program are schools from
Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne, Huron, Lapeer, Genesee, Bay and Lenawee counties.
Holland and McDowell are two of 15 schools participating in Wayne County.
Poor nutrition and resulting obesity are problems
in today’s America. One in three children in the nation are overweight. The
rate of childhood obesity has tripled over the past 30 years.
“The long-term benefits of the Building Healthy
Communities program cannot be overstated in term of its potential to improve
the overall health of our citizens and into the future,” said Dr. Kim Eagle of
the University of Michigan Health System. “(This will) reduce health care costs
that will benefit all of us and help generations of Michiganders live
healthier, more successful lives.”
The program is a comprehensive, school-wide effort to
fight childhood obesity. Since its inception in 2009, over 35,000 students in
83 schools have been reached.
In the Taylor elementary schools, BCBS of Michigan,
WSU, the fitness foundation and the dairy industry will be working together.
The program will target nine areas with school-based education and
environmental initiatives:
- Principal involvement
- Healthy breakfasts
- Classroom education
- Physical education
- Active recess
- Student leadership through Fuel Up to Play 60
- Events for families
- Media center education
- Afterschool Healthy Kids Club
For more information on the program, click here.
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