July 11th, 2012
Public Health Week at Orange County schools
Students at Newburgh’s Temple Hill Academy drew healthy pictures of fruits and vegetables on the front sidewalk of the school as part of their Public Health Week activities.
GOSHEN – Before the end of the school year, elementary and middle schools throughout Orange County partnered with Healthy Orange, the education arm of the County’s Department of Health, to recognize Public Health Week. To show their support, students participated in Healthy Orange’s “Chalk It Up” days by writing important public health messages in chalk on school walkways so that they could be viewed by students, staff, and visitors.
The “Chalk It Up” activities held at the schools promoted public health messages regarding healthy eating, physical fitness, hand washing, tobacco-free lifestyle, and the prevention of infection. Students had fun writing the chalk messages, and also got in some physical activity at the same time.
“Healthy Orange and their school partners teamed up to get the word out about simple, but critically important, health messages,” said County Executive Edward A. Diana. “Best of all they did it in a fun way that made it meaningful to the students.”
“The school principals and nurses were essential to getting the ‘Chalk It Up’ program off to a great start,” added Orange County Commissioner of Health, Dr. Jean M. Hudson. “They worked with our Healthy Orange team to develop creative activities that were both educational and enjoyable for the children who participated.”
Newburgh’s Temple Hill Academy’s 4th and 5th graders drew healthy pictures of fruits and vegetables on the front sidewalk of the school. South Middle School in Newburgh had gym and art classes from the 6th and 8th grades draw health tips in chalk on the front sidewalk area of the school. Florida’s Golden Hill Elementary School’s Junior Health and Wellness Team from the 4th and 5th grades drew colorful health messages in chalk around the front of the school building. The cafeteria director added a basket of fruits and vegetables to inspire the students as they drew. At Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School in Port Jervis students wrote health messages and acted out health tips to promote water consumption and physical activity.
Orange County Department of Health’s Healthy Orange representatives Meg Oakes and Juliana Marchesano visited the schools to photograph the health messages. Participating schools will receive a plaque of appreciation for promoting good health.
Healthy Orange began in 2006 as Orange County Department of Health’s public health initiative to improve the health of residents of Orange County.