Six PYLUSD elementary campuses named America’s Healthiest Schools

Six Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD) elementary school campuses have been acknowledged by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation as America’s Healthiest Schools for 2019. Melrose, Morse, Rio Vista, Ruby Drive, Topaz, and Tynes elementary schools have all received the bronze level award based on the number of best practices they have implemented related to students’ health.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s philosophy is simple: every child deserves a healthy future. By working with schools, youth-serving organizations, businesses, and communities, the Alliance empowers children to develop lifelong healthy habits by ensuring the environments that surround them provide and promote good health.

Notably, only 355 schools representing 23 states were dubbed America’s Healthiest for 2019. In order to be considered for this distinction, schools must participate in Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program, one of the nation’s largest school-based childhood obesity prevention initiatives that fosters a comprehensive approach to health promotion driven by administrators, teachers, counselors, parents, and the surrounding community.

According to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, schools are evaluated based on their ability to serve healthier meals and snacks, get students moving more, offer high-quality health and physical education, and support staff wellness.

In addition, America’s Healthiest Schools meet or exceed federal nutrition standards for meals and snacks, offer breakfast daily, incorporate physical activity before, during, or after school, implement district wellness policies and updates progress annually, and lastly, involved parents and community members in decision-making.

“A special thanks to our principals of each PYLUSD elementary school for their commitment to this goal,” Executive Director of Instructional Support, Richard McAlindin, shared.