The AACPS Wellness Council is excited to announce that Arnold Elementary School, Arundel High School, Folger McKinsey Elementary School, Glen Burnie Park Elementary School, Pasadena Elementary School, Ruth Parker Eason School, South River High School, South Shore Elementary School, and Tyler Heights Elementary School are the 2022 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 their culture/climate 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. In support of all schools, the AACPS Wellness Council created a Wellness Toolkit, which provides a plethora of information for schools on how to successfully implement all of the components.
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 healthy community.
This year, schools that won the award in 2019 or prior were eligible to apply to maintain their statuses. Arnold Elementary School earned its fourth designation while Pasadena Elementary School earned its third. Folger McKinsey Elementary School and South Shore Elementary School earned the award for the second time. As an extension of the Board of Education policy on wellness and the AACPS Wellness Council, the award is given annually.
The application window for the 2023 award is now open. Schools that won the award in 2020 are now eligible to apply to maintain their designations.
Parents and community members are highly encouraged to be involved in the application process. While a copy of the application can be reviewed on the Wellness Schools web page, final submissions must be made online by a school employee with approval by the principal. Only online applications submitted via the school system intranet will be accepted. General information about the Wellness Schools of Distinction program can be found at www.aacps.org/wellnessschools.