Seward Elementary recognized for healthy programs
Seward Elementary is one of four Kenai Peninsula Borough School District schools to have received national recognition for supporting the health of children and communities. As part of their ef-forts in the federal HealthierUS School Challenge, the districts feature healthy items on their school menus and emphasize physical education and activity. KBPSD is one of the first two Alaska school districts to achieve this award.
Upon learning of the national award, Dean Hamburg, administrator of KPBSD Student Nutrition Services said, “Since 1946, the United States Department of Agriculture has supported suc-cess in school meal programs. As a longtime leader in support of appropriate nutrition for student success in American classrooms, the USDA developed the criteria and award program that is the HealthierUS School Challenge. The KPBSD community can be proud and pleased that these four schools are among the first in Alaska to meet the award winning criteria for appropri-ate nutrition in school meals, physical education and nutrition education. This is a significant achievement in Alaska nutrition history for the students we serve.”
“I am thrilled to learn that our four schools are being recognized in this way. The award speaks to our progressive stance toward student wellness and shines a light on the careful atten-tion that these schools give to their students,” said KPBSD superintendent Dr. Steve Atwater.
Together with the USDA, the state of Alaska supports the HealthierUS Schools Challenge. HUSSC is a voluntary initiative established in 2004 to recognize schools and Residential Child Care Institutions that have created healthier school environments through promotion of nutrition and physical activity. The three goals of HUSSC are: improve the quality of foods served; provide students with nutrition education; and provide students with physical education and opportunities for physical activity.