Gold Medal Schools

http://www.hearthighway.org/gms

Utah PTA supports a variety of programs, activities, and events throughout the school year. Here are a few you may want to become more familiar with. The first three programs listed, are official PTA Programs.

Gold Medal Schools makes it possible for elementary schools to provide physical activity and healthy nutrition choices at a time when budget cuts and testing requirements overshadow physical activity and nutrition. Gold Medal Schools improves students’ academic success through policies and environmental changes that support good nutrition, physical activity and staying tobacco-free.

The Utah Department of Health developed the Gold Medal Schools program in 2001 using the State Office of Education's core curriculum and the Centers for Disease Control's guidelines to address overweight and obesity in elementary schools. Intermountain Healthcare partnered with the Gold Medal Schools team in 2005 and has enabled the program to reach more schools throughout the state. Today, Gold Medal Schools has reached more than 140,000 students and over 6,000 teachers in 286 elementary schools!

The Gold Medal Schools program launched a new page on their web site. This new page is especially for parents. Its main purpose is to take Gold Medal Schools to the home reinforcing the school's Gold Medal Schools philosophy. Please check it out and spread the word about this new resource for the parents.

New Mini-Grants Available To support the use of Kids Eat Right toolkits by Campaign Members, twenty-five (25) $200 grants are available. Recipients of the mini-grants agree to give two presentations from any of the Kids Eat Right toolkits in a school setting for kids or adults. Applications are due January 25, 2013.