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Atwood Elementary School
L’Anse Creuse Public Schools
Macomb County
45690 North Avenue
Macomb, Michigan  48042-5236

Enrollment:   757
Public School

Success Story Contact:
Lou Ann Fanning
Principal
Phone: 586-493-5250
Email: fanninlo@lc-ps.org


Success Story Information:

Reach:
  • Building level
  • Classroom level
Duration: 7 to 9 months
Costs:
  • Materials/supplies
  • $100 or less
Factors for Success:
  • Coordinated School Health Team
  • Completing an assessment (such as Healthy School Action Tool, School Health Index, Changing the Scene)
  • Administrative support
  • Other team/committee (other than a Coordinated School Health Team)
  

SCHOOL LUNCH
SUCCESS STORY

At Atwood Elementary, our goal is excellence in all of our endeavors. Our Health Team is a fine example.

The Atwood Team started as a parent volunteer group working to assist the school in health education. Our members now include nurses, dental hygienists, a dietician, food service professional, concerned parents, and a grandfather. In cooperation with St. Joseph’s Healthcare School Health Network, our Health Team, has worked with the Physical Education Department and Food and Nutrition Services to develop a Healthy Policy book, focused on nutrition and exercise. The policies mean students get an opportunity to purchase healthy food and beverages a la carte to supplement their lunch. The policy book stipulates: Only Healthy food and beverages are offered at school sponsored events. School fundraising will be non-food or only healthy food items. Neither recess nor physical education time can be withheld as a means of punishment.

Many parents expressed concern that their children were not eating their lunch and were instead purchasing sweets from the snack cart in the cafeteria. To address this, Atwood has eliminated the snack cart in the cafeteria and promotes the fruits and vegetables offered by our Food and Nutrition Services. To supplement their lunch, children can purchase an additional serving of fruits, vegetables, milk, or juice from the food service. As a result of this change, less healthy food is wasted and, most importantly, fewer students fill-up on non-nutritious snacks during lunch time.

The Atwood Health Team started with the goal of promoting a healthy lifestyle for students, parents, and staff. It has grown in size and efforts as we constantly challenge ourselves with new and creative ideas. With full support from our principal, the combined Atwood Health Teams have welcomed into its membership all those wishing to promote a healthy lifestyle and served as a role model for Health Education. Great Going Gators!
 
Other Relevant School Information

Our Coordinated School Health Team/Committee has the following active members: School Administration (Principal, Assistant Principal, Superintendent);Nutrition Services (Food Service Director or Manager);Physical Education (PE teacher);Classroom teacher (not PE or Health);Health Services Provider or School Nurse;School Counselor, Psychologist or Social Worker;Family Involvement (Parent/Guardian);Student (on the team for middle/high school; input for elementary school);Community Involvement (Health Department, MSU Extension, Heart Assoc., Cancer Society)

Our Team/Committee met 4 or more times during the past 12 months.

Assessments* Completed: Healthy School Action Tools (HSAT)*

This School Success Story was submitted on 2/12/2007

*Since 2004, The Healthy School Action Tool Assessment is Michigan’s preferred assessment tool that is a combination of the School Health Index and Changing the Scene.



The Michigan Healthy School Success Story website is brought to you by the American Cancer Society, Michigan Action for Healthy Kids, Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan State University Extension, and United Dairy Industry of Michigan