News

Release

August 28, 2007                                                                                     Tracy N. McKeown

                                                                                                                (405) 606-8435

Oklahoma City – Forty elementary schools from across the state of Oklahoma have been selected to participate in the Schools for Healthy Lifestyles program for the 2007-08 school year. The schools will be honored at an awards reception Tuesday, September 11th from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center located at 2401 N. Laird Avenue in Oklahoma City. Becky Switzer and Representative Jabar Shumate will give the keynote address. This special event is being sponsored by the Oklahoma State Medical Association, United Way of Central Oklahoma and the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City.

Schools for Healthy Lifestyles (SHL) began in 1997 as a partnership of the Oklahoma County Medical Society, the Oklahoma City-County and State Health Departments and Oklahoma City Public Schools. It is now a registered 501(c)(3) organization. SHL has been named a best-practice school health model for Oklahoma by the state legislature and is endorsed and supported by both the State Department of Education and Department of Health. The innovative program also received a 2004 Champions of Health Award.

The SHL program is designed to teach and promote healthy lifestyle behaviors related to the prevention of our leading health problems of cardiovascular disease, cancer and unintentional injury. Four key areas are emphasized in the curriculum: physical activity/fitness; nutrition; tobacco use prevention; and safety/injury prevention. The SHL program targets not only students, but their families and school faculty as well.

Elementary schools from across Oklahoma submit application proposals in the spring semester. Each selected school receives a $1,000 grant to help implement strategic plans to improve the health and well-being of their school community.

"We are excited about supporting the schools in their mission of academic success by helping them build a quality coordinated school health program. This program will not only benefit the children and faculty in the schools but will benefit the community as a whole," said Tracy N. McKeown, Executive Director of SHL.

SHL partners with more than 50 public and private health-related organizations to accomplish its mission. Dr. John Bozalis of the Oklahoma Allergy and Asthma Clinic serves as President of the Board. For questions or more information, please visit www.healthyschoolsok.org or contact the SHL office at 405-606-8435.

The following schools will be receiving grants at the awards ceremony:

Atoka Elementary (Atoka)

Cherokee Elementary (Tahlequah)

Choctaw Elementary (Choctaw-Nicoma Park)

Lincoln Elementary (Chickasha)

Mark Twain Elementary (Duncan)

Myers Elementary (Yukon)

Oklahoma School for the Blind (Muskogee)

Ralph Downs Elementary (Putnam City)

Rose Union Elementary (Deer Creek)

Western Oaks Elementary (Putnam City)

Will Rogers Elementary (Edmond)

CONTINUING SCHOOLS (Have been in program 1-3 years)

Coronado Heights Elementary (Putnam City)

East Side Elementary (Mid-Del)

Gilmour Elementary (Kingfisher)

Grand Elementary (Chickasha)

Huston Center (Blackwell)

Lee Elementary (Tulsa)

Okarche Elementary (Okarche)

Southwest Elementary (Chickasha)

Washington Irving Elementary (Edmond)

Will Rogers Elementary (Shawnee)

Zarrow International (Tulsa)

CERTIFIED SCHOOLS (Have met program criteria 5+ years)

Bodine Elementary (OKC)

Buchanan Elementary (OKC)

Columbus Elementary (OKC)

Fillmore Elementary (OKC)

Heronville Elementary (OKC)

Hillcrest Elementary (OKC)

Horace Mann Elementary (OKC)

Johnson Elementary (OKC)

M.L. King Elementary (OKC)

Rancho Village Elementary (OKC)

Shedeck Elementary (Yukon)

Skyview Elementary (Yukon)

Stand Watie Elementary (OKC)

Steed Elementary (Mid-Del)

Tinker Elementary (Mid-Del)

Western Village Elementary (OKC)

West Nichols Hills Elementary (OKC)

Willow Brook Elementary (OKC)