As the new school year is upon us, schools across the state are making changes to become healthier environments for their students. At Northwood High School, as part of their Hallways to Health initiative, they have removed all the vending machines from the campus that were making high caloric, unhealthy snacks readily available to students. This is a huge success that reiterates to students the importance of healthy eating. Northwood’s student body is large and so diverse that being able to reach them at this population level is a huge success.
The Principal, Ms.Charley-Greene, has been a leader in health and wellness in Northwood High School. For the upcoming school year she has removed the candy, snack and soda vending machines from the halls. Students will be eating healthier lunches and after school snacks. — Kay Sophar, Northwood High SBHC Nurse Practitioner
In addition to the removal of the vending machines, Northwood’s SBHC is also working towards expanding a pilot breakfast program that they have had much success initiating during the 2015-16 school year. Northwood addressed absenteeism with a pilot in-class breakfast program through a partnership with Nourish Now. As a result of the pilot breakfast program during the 2015-16 school year, students had a recognizable increase in energy, they began to arrive earlier to class, and there was an improvement in their grades. Northwood’s SBHC is working on expanding the breakfast program to include additional classrooms and reach more students.
Northwood SBHC Staff
Way to go Northwood! Good luck for the 2016-17 school year!
If your SBHC has a success story they would like to share, please email Sapna Hencinski at [email protected]