Schools get award for wellness

The district may move the homecoming parade to a Sunday.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Springfield Board of Education has adopted a wellness policy that encourages good health through better nutrition and regular physical activity.
The policy is part of a national initiative to encourage school districts to promote healthier choices among pupils, parents and school staff. School districts are to have a wellness policy in place by Saturday.
In a related matter, school officials announced each of the district's three schools -- elementary, intermediate and high schools -- has been named Gold Award winners for the Buckeye Healthy Schools Awards Program. Each school is to receive $450 towards the development of its individual wellness plan.
The Buckeye program is designed to recognize schools whose policies and practices reflect a high priority on healthy outcomes for children. The program is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Health in partnership with the American Cancer Society's Ohio Division as part of the ODOH's Healthy Ohioans campaign.
Each year the program accepts applications and ranks schools based on their progress to achieve a gold standard in the areas of tobacco, nutrition and physical activity.
Possible parade shift
In other news, the school district is considering moving the annual homecoming parade to the Sunday afternoon before the homecoming game. The game is scheduled for Sept. 22.
Traditionally, the parade is held the night before the game. Officials said they are considering moving it because of numerous scheduling conflicts among pupils and the desire to encourage as many people as possible to participate.