CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A first-ever contest starting up this month aims to recognize elementary schools across the Mountain State that are leading the way with efforts to improve health.
Governor Jim Justice recently announced the inaugural West Virginia Healthy Habits School Contest during a recent media briefing.
A collaborative effort between the West Virginia Department of Health, the WV Department of Education, and Aetna Better Health of West Virginia, the contest will celebrate elementary schools across the state that have been coming up with their own initiatives to improve health outcomes for students and the communities they live in.
Dr. Sherri Young
Cabinet Secretary of the state Department of Health Dr. Sherri Young said the new initiative builds on those that have been taking place across the schools already.
“Many of the schools are already implementing health improvement procedures and initiatives, what we want to do with this program is highlight those and encourage additional schools to make these strides and empower our youngest West Virginians to be healthy making decades worth of impact,” said Young.
She said by participating in the program, the schools will not only get the chance to showcase their existing initiatives but can use the additional support and resources they receive during the contest to further enhance those initiatives.
The contest officially kicked off at the start of school this year and the schools will have until November 5 to submit their entries.
To enter, they must submit a 2 minute video highlighting their creative approach to good health and wellness promotion within their schools and communities. Young explains further.
“They can also provide a written summary with this video just explaining the things they are doing to make their schools healthier and their communities healthier,” she said.
The entry form and video submission link will become available later this month.
The award ceremony where the top three schools will be named will take place in December.
The first prize winner of the contest will receive $2,500, the second place winner will get $1,000 and the third $500.
Young said the prize money is intended to go to further support health initiatives within the winning schools.
“With that they can purchase new sports equipment or enhance their playground facilities, as long as they are investing it back into the kids who are doing the great work,” she said.
Young said the judging will be conducted by a panel made up of representatives from the WV DH, WVDE and Aetna Better Health.
The schools interested in entering can go to the contest’s web page to learn more.