REMINDER: The Indoor Walking Trails are opening February 1st. For more
details - see above button. Hope to see you there.....
History:
In early 2001, Kittery School Department signed on for a grant with York Hospital, York School Department and MSAD 60 to form a community/school partnership. Funding for the project comes from tobacco settlement money from the Fund for a Healthy Maine through the Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine, Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The schools in the partnership are charged with creating a Coordinated School Health Program. This model is made up of eight components: Health Education, Physical Activity and Education, School Climate, Health Services, Parent/Youth/Community Involvement, Health Promotion for Staff, Nutrition Services and Healthy School Environment. For more information about the eight components, visit the Maine Coordinated School Health Program website.
Since 2002 the School Health Coordinator has chaired the district-wide Health Coordinating Team, comprised of key individuals in the district who represent each of the eight components. The Health Coordinator and Team have worked on many initiatives over the years, some of which are listed below. Strategies for health improvements have focused on policy and environmental change. Some of the district accomplishments are highlighted below.
* Policy changes dealing with alcohol and tobacco as well as nutrition
* Staff wellness initiatives such as "March Into May", "Lighten ME", and pedometer loans
* Health curriculum development, material acquisition and staff development
* Character education programming at the elementary grades
* Increasing physical activity opportunities for students through various programs
* School Climate surveys of students and staff
* Body Mass Index data analysis
* Community involvement through Kittery Children's Leadership Council
* Traip Academy opened for walkers and listed on Healthy Maine Walks website
* Communications with community regarding student health data and health issues facing students
* Grant awards for several health initiatives
* Lunch menu changes and healthy preparation improvements
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