Wellness Checklist Contest

The Boeing Center for Children's Wellness School Championship and Healthy Schools Checklist

In an effort to address rising rates of overweight and obesity in the Lowcountry, and to support the national emphasis on improving student and employee wellness, we facilitate a district-level Wellness Championship open to Charleston County School District, Berkeley County School District and Dorchester School Districts:

• Effect measurable health policy and behavior changes at the individual school level, with a focus on obesity-related behaviors.
• Measure the level of activity of the school wellness councils at individual, categorical and district levels.

We are now launching year three of this contest in Charleston County School District, and this will be our first year in Berkeley and Dorchester School Districts. As in previous years, the data collection tools (a checklist and scorecard) will be distributed to all school principals, PE teachers and school nurses. Checklist items are categorized under 6 wellness themes, and point values are assigned to each item based on perceived difficulty to implement and/or our interest in effecting those changes. Cash prizes are available to schools to incentivize performance.

This year, we will be implementing some changes to the contest, such as:

·       A few new checklist items, and some changes in point values on older items

·       Maximum point values have been set for each item.

Also, the biggest change this year is that we are going electronic!  Paper submissions will no longer be accepted.  The electronic submission process will be live in January 2013 via our website.  We will send out notices to schools once this becomes live.  For now, schools can keep track of their accomplishments using the paper versions that we have provided.

For Charleston County School District, please be reminded of the following key points:

·       A 50 point minimum is required for schools who won a wellness award any of the previous two years. Schools participating for the first time are only required to earn a minimum of 30 points. One point must come from each category on the checklist.  **PLEASE NOTE- all items and events must be current for this school year to be counted.** 

For all districts:

·       There is an opportunity to earn up to 5 bonus points for wellness items NOT captured on an existing checklist item.

·       Sample policies can be found on our website for now under 2011-2012 Wellness Checklist Winners.

This contest is a great opportunity to get money and recognition for your school’s wellness efforts!

Results from 2010-2011:

• Prior to the onset of the contest, only 22 CCSD schools had established wellness councils.  This year 53 school checklists were submitted and verified, and subsequently classified as “active school wellness councils”- a change from 27% to 66%. 
• All 53 schools met the criteria to receive the $1000 award to be used for a wellness project during the 2011-2012 school year.  Of these, 36 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, 3 middle/high schools and 6 high schools participated.
• The average number of school wellness council meetings over the course of the school year was 4.7.
• 33 of these schools had a physician represented on their school wellness council. Schools adopted by a physician showed a significant effect on school participation. Of theose schools adopted by a physician, 78% participated in the contest. Of theose not adopted, only 21% participated in the contest.
• 29 of these schools were implementing an outdoor vegetable garden on their school premises.
• 30 schools removed a deep fryer from their school kitchens.
• 19 schools held at least one fresh fruit and/or veggie tasting event in the last school year.
• 22 schools replaced some unhealthy foods with healthier ones in their school cafeteria; 13 did so in their vending machines.