Union Endicott Tigers Are Steps Ahead Of The Rest When It Comes To Wellness

Broome County Health Department Honors Union Endicott School District for Outstanding Contributions in School Health and Wellness

ENDICOTT, NY - In recognition of the Union Endicott School District's commitment, perseverance and leadership in the area of health and wellness, the Broome County Health Department's Steps to a HealthierNY initiative will present Superintendent Dr. James Coon with an honorary flag on Monday September 12, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. in the District Board Room in Endicott.

The UE Tigers have been instrumental in collaborating with the Steps to a HealthierNY initiative to reduce the burden of obesity, asthma and diabetes in their school community by implementing nutrition and wellness programs and instituting policies that promote healthy living.

Poor diet and inadequate physical activity are the second leading cause of death in the United States and together account for at least 300,000 deaths annually. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), obesity and overweight have reached epidemic proportions in the United States. The Union Endicott School District has been a leader in our community in addressing both of these serious issues.

This is particularly important because the Centers for Disease Control warns that one in three children born in the United States in 2000 will become diabetic unless many more people start eating less and exercising more. There are twice as many overweight children and almost three times as many overweight adolescents as there were in 1980. In 2000, 15% of children aged 6 to 11 were overweight and nearly 16% of adolescents were overweight in the United States (2003 Action for Healthy Kids).

With a very active wellness committee of dedicated school administrators, food service management, health related teaching professionals and community partners, the UE Tigers have been a role model for school communities throughout Broome County, New York State, and the nation.

Union Endicott is one of the three original school districts in Broome County to launch the Give Me 5 Program, which promotes the consumption of fruits and vegetables for better health. They were instrumental in the planning and development of the program and have been a leader and model to the schools which have followed in their footsteps.

One of the UE Tigers' accomplishments was setting nutrition policies by implementing a food service program that offers appealing choices of nutritious food. Additional opportunities have been created for faculty, staff and students to get their five servings of fruits and vegetables a day and to decrease the number of unhealthy options available by creating an overall school environment that encourages students to make sensible food choices. The UE school district served New York harvested fruits and vegetables to support NY Harvest for NY Kids Week. They have also demonstrated their commitment to involve family members in nutrition education.

Research shows that healthy eating patterns are essential for students to achieve their academic potential, full physical and mental growth, and lifelong health and well-being. Schools have a responsibility to help students establish and maintain lifelong healthy eating patterns. A comprehensive school nutrition program has been linked to positive eating habits in students. Healthy eating habits have been shown to reduce the risk of developing various chronic illnesses and diseases in adults.

The Union Endicott School District is dedicated to providing a sequential program of nutrition instruction that is taught K-12 and is aimed at providing students with adequate knowledge and attitudes to form healthy eating habits. During April and May, UE provided a morning program on fruits and vegetables for the George F. Johnson elementary school. Cornell Cooperative Extension also provided a program for the 4th grade students at that same school using a curriculum called "Eating Right Is Fun.".

A fitness path was created at the George F. Johnson Elementary School by painting tiger paws to mark the distance around school grounds. Maps were created and are available for faculty, staff, students and the public to increase physical activity in the school community. Several faculty, staff and students also enrolled in the B.C. Walks and B.C. Walks, Jr. community-wide walking programs during Walk ‘N' Roll 2005. Union Endicott is committed to involving family members in educational programs that encourage participation with their children in physical activity Union Endicott also created an after school Intramural program to promote fitness and increase activity for elementary students. UE provides a sequential program of fitness instruction that is integrated within the physical education curriculum to encourage regular exercise and physical activity.

The UE Tigers have been a leader in the American Lung Association's Open Airways Asthma Management and Education Program. This program teaches children, ages 8-11, how to detect the warning signs of asthma, including the environmental factors that can trigger an attack.

To learn more about the Broome County Health Department's Steps to a HealthierNY initiative and how your school can participate in its programs contact Becky Gelunas by phone at 607.778.3902 or e-mail at rgelunas@co.broome.ny.us.

Steps to a HealthierNY is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of Steps to a HealthierUS, a national program focusing on the prevention of diabetes, obesity and asthma and addressing related risk factors -- poor nutrition, physical inactivity and tobacco use and exposure. For more information about Steps to a HealthierNY in Broome County, please visit www.gobroomecounty.com or call 607.778.3902.

Steps to a HealthierUS Cooperative Agreement is a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) program advancing the HealthierUS goal to help Americans live longer, better and healthier lives. Through funding of community-based interventions, this program aims to reduce the burden of diabetes, obesity and asthma, and address three related risk behaviors -- poor nutrition, physical inactivity and tobacco use and exposure. For more information, please visit www.healthierus.gov/steps.

CONTACT:
Becky Gelunas, School Health Coordinator
Broome County Health Department: 607.778.3902
email: rgelunas@co.broome.ny.us

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