We congratulate CUSD’s nine elementary schools and our Nutrition Services staff for their Bronze Level Achievement Awards in the HealthyUS School Challenge. Representatives from the California Department of Education (CDE) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) came to Jefferson Elementary School’s monthly assembly to honor each elementary school principal with a plaque, banner for their efforts. Schools will also receive a $500 award.
Any day on our CUSD campuses you can observe students jogging, dancing, selecting greens from a salad bar, or munching on vegetables from the school garden. At Jefferson, the day begins with an action-packed aerobic workout, lead by school principal Chad Lund, for the whole student body, staff, and even parents and young siblings. The youngest students will be digging in the “Kinder Garden,” and snacking on a kale leaf; and the older ones will be weeding, harvesting and tasting a nasturium flower, or filling a backpack with prized crops to share with their families for dinner. Across the district, students are learning about how proper nutrition keeps us strong and healthy. Hope Elementary School’s students even made a fun video called “I Love Vegetables.”
CUSD is being honored for making health and nutrition a priority through our three-pronged approach:
1- A districtwide nutrition program that provides healthy food options, thanks to the dedicated efforts of Nutrition Director Michelle Johnson and her staff;
2- An emphasis on increasing physical activity as part of the regular school day, whether it is through Physical Education and sports programs, or other special programs; and
3- Nutritional education as part of the curriculum at each of our schools.
The HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) is a voluntary initiative established in 2004 to recognize schools participating in the National School Lunch Program that have created healthier school environments for their students.
Healthy and active students are more engaged learners. Carlsbad is honored to be recognized for its wellness programs that encourage students to eat healthy and maintain active lifestyles.
