Central Valley
Regional Award Winner
Regional Award Winner
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Golden Oak Elementary submitted the following three essays for consideration of the Governor's Challenge Competition Grand Prize: Essay 1 - Commitment to Promoting Healthy Eating on Campus Our student population is approx. 90% Hispanic and eats traditional foods. Trying to change eating habits has been an ongoing struggle. We have worked to make them aware that they are at the highest risk for childhood Obesity. We continually work to educated them in ways to balance out their meals without having to give up the meals they enjoy but, rather by changing their eating habits. Our school has done the following to help increase our students’ healthy eating habits: • They are provided a balanced meal consisting of: o Low Fat regular or Chocolate milk o Main course, be it beef or chicken o Vegetable (i.e. carrots, corn, peas, green beans) o Simple desert (i.e. fruit) o Snacks are also offered such as Raw carrots and cauliflower o A salad is offered bar twice a week o Lettuce, fresh fruit During Physical Education we continually discuss: • The food pyramid o The number of portions to consume from each category • A balanced meal and what it consists of • Healthy eating habits: o Erasing the old clear your plate mentality o Slowing down when you eat o Not eating when stressed, upset, bored o Alternative ways to celebrate rather then eating o Replacing candies with natural sugars (i.e. fruits) o drinking water rather then soda o replacing soda with flavored water at about the same cost but with added health benefits • The American Heart Assoc. director comes to our school not only to stress the importance of being active but eating healthy The teachers have also joined in by stressing to inform the students of the importance of eating healthy and the life long benefits that go along with such a life altering choice. Essay 2 - Support of Students’ Physical Activity and Fitness Our school realizes the importance of Physical Education: • Developed a reverse integration program all grades 30 min daily o 5 work with teacher remainder go to PE daily o Kindergarten has it 3x weekly o 1 – 3 M - F o 4 – 6 M - F • Result Academic State Testing Scores consistent improvement • We have had afterschool programs • Lunch time intramurals • Purchased new playground equipment o To develop upper body strength and coordination • Classrooms have sports equipment for lunch and recesses o Soccer ball, basketball, football, playground balls (3) jump rope (3) • Purchased the S.P.A.R.K. program (Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids) and everything needed to promote program o Emphasis on fun and personal growth rather than winning o Have a 100% participation rate with students looking forward to P.E. • Ongoing monitoring of students (4 - 6) BMI Body Mass Index o 75% to 80% improvement yearly • State Fitness gram results o 6 straight years improvement • We are involved with the Police Activity League o They come out yearly and we work together to get the kids involved in afterschool programs they offer • Students are required as part of their grade to keep a daily personal activity log every quarter • Students are presented awards for everything from o Setting school records o Most improved o Reaching personal goals o Good sportsmanship o Intramural Championship o Outstanding Student/Athlete o Best Effort • Awards are: • Tee- Shirts • Trophies • Medals • Certificates • Tickets to local Sporting events • Basketballs, footballs, soccer balls • Jump ropes • Pedometers • Water bottles Once a year the Local College Basketball team visits with the kids and share the advantages of being involved in sports Essay 3- Need For a New Fitness Center As the research has shown, the link between establishing healthy living habits in childhood and long term health and fitness is significant. Unfortunately as is true in most community with high populations in the lower socioeconomic groups, the focus is on maintaining a basic standard of living. The need and value of creating a routine of physical fitness through sports and exercise is not seen as crucial. This is a central reason for our need for a physical fitness center. Access to team sports is limited primarily to football and soccer. Although these are admirable sports that build healthy bodies and team discipline, they are outdoor sports with a limited season. In addition, their target groups are specific and participation can present a financial barrier to many families. A fitness center will provide an indoor center for year round activity broadening the scope of activities and increasing the number participating and removing the financial barriers for many of our families. Moreover, programs could offer programs for families to participate together. Another benefit of the center would be to make available an alternative safe environment for our students to gather and enjoy team activities. We are a small community with no theaters, fitness centers, or public gymnasiums. In addition, over the past three years, our schools have become gated and fenced which makes their playgrounds and yards unavailable to families to use during the evening. A fitness center would provide a centralized gathering place for families and children to learn healthy life styles based on educational programs and organized physical fitness activities. As President Kennedy said “We do not want in the United States a nation of spectators. We want a nation of participants in the vigorous life.” That is exactly what we want for the children and families of Shafter. |
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