The AACPS Wellness Council is excited to announce that Benfield, Cape St. Claire, and Piney Orchard elementary schools, as well as Central Middle School and South River High School are the 2019 winners of the AACPS Wellness School of Distinction award. The award recognizes schools that demonstrate a high priority for the health and well-being of students, staff, and school supporters by going beyond the curriculum to produce positive outcomes for the entire school community.
In order to win the prestigious honor, schools must show that its culture encompasses wellness as reflected in the ten components of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model. WSCC is a coordinated and collaborative school health approach outlined by the Centers for Disease Control. The components of the WSCC are: health education; physical activity; health services; nutrition environment & services; counseling, psychological, & social services; social & emotional climate; physical environment; employee wellness; family engagement; and community involvement.
From approaches that incorporate equity to monthly fitness challenges for students and staff to health-focused afterschool clubs, each winning school’s approach to creating a culture of wellness is unique, but with one common factor: collaboration and motivation to be a well community.
This year, schools that won the award in 2016 were eligible to apply to maintain their statuses. South River High School earned its third designation while Benfield Elementary School earned its second. As an extension of the Board of Education policy on wellness and the AACPS Wellness Council, the award is given annually.
The application for the 2020 award will be available in the spring. The Wellness Council created a toolkit for schools seeking to infuse wellness into its everyday activities.