Page 126 - Wellness Promotion Policy Annual Report FY19 & FY20

STUDENTS STUDENTS
Physical Education Physical Education
& Physical Activity Environment & Community & Physical Activity Environment &
Nutrition
Community Involvement EMPLOYEES Engagement COORDINATING POLICY, PROCESS, AND PRACTICE Counseling, Social Services Social & Emotional & FAMILIES Community Involvement EMPLOYEES Engagement COORDINATING POLICY, PROCESS, AND PRACTICE Counseling, Social Services Social & Emotional & FAMILIES
Nutrition
Community
Services
Involvement
Services
Involvement
Psychological
Family
Psychological
Family
HEALTHY SAFE
HEALTHY SAFE
CHALLENGED SUPPORTED ENGAGED
CHALLENGED SUPPORTED ENGAGED
Physical
Physical
Environment
Environment
Employee IMPROVING LEARNING AND HEALTH Health Climate Employee IMPROVING LEARNING AND HEALTH Health Climate
Wellness Education Wellness Education
Health Health
Services Services
COMMUNITY COMMUNITY
Gardens of Hope in Schools We hypothesize that future work will impact students by enhancing food literacy, improving diet habits and
further developing prosocial qualities through peer teamwork and collaboration in the garden setting, and
look forward to sharing the updates in the next report. Phase II is already underway, and the work will carry
on within these and other elementary schools, adding middle and high schools around the District.
JOSEPH P CORY
FOUNDATION

It is the mission of the Joseph P Cory Foundation (JPCF) to educate and empower children, families and
communities to achieve wellness and wellbeing through expertise, education and guidance. As collaborative
partners with the District and its Wellness Promotion Task Force (WPTF), it was a fortunate to employ the The year ended on a high note, as the GOH project was showcased at the District’s Wellness Promotion Task
Gardens of Hope (GOH) program in schools, bringing profound work to a wider audience, thus impacting our Force’s Spotlight on Wellness celebration, when Founder and President Mrs. Nada Cory spoke following
students’ optimal health. a video presentation filmed by The Education Network (TEN). The short movie was full of excitement and
“Hope”, demonstrating how Hammock Pointe’s garden was built and planted by the students, faculty and
Nearly 1 in 5 school-aged children in the United States is obese. Gardens of Hope, one of the foundation’s their families. To further support our efforts, the name of the “Grow it Forward Scholarship” winner Ms.
signature programs, provides an absolute mind-body-spirit experience for all those involved. These Karina Brown (Plumosa School of the Arts) was revealed, and Karina was formally awarded at the Foundation’s
exemplary environments provide hands-on nutrition education, movement, and promote leadership skills Annual “Homegrown Health Gala”, held on April 27, 2019. It should be noted that in addition to strengthening
and peer collaboration. During their weekly extra curricula garden club, this program grants opportunities the urban agriculture movement - garden to table - JPCF provides other opportunities that can be obtained
for students to utilize strategies that increase fruit and vegetable consumption, food literacy, and offers the through volunteerism, internships, and community service.
availability, safety and convenience of fresh organic produce. Through nutrition education in the form of
cooking, gardening and eating herbs/vegetables, advancements multiply in excess of learning from merely We know and believe that this collaboration across interprofessional domains is essential to optimize the
textbooks. Most notably, numerous studies substantiate that school gardens represent a unique opportunity learning environment of school gardens and thereby target specific knowledge deficits. Above all, we are
to combat obesity and foster improved health, while cultivating an early appreciation for beneficial foods. happy to report that the students conceptualize their garden activities as cool, fun and enjoyable!

The JPCF gained the support and attention from several third-year medical students, Ms. Stephanie Camhi
and Ms. Desmond Green, from the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine’s MD/MPH program. New,
and mutually sought-after public health objectives, demonstrating how the Gardens of Hope program would
reflect and verify changes in knowledge, attitude and behavior, were created. With the addition of pre and
post testing, and a series of five original age appropriate lessons, Phase 1 for the data collection/garden
initiative was set in motion.

The existing District’s School Garden agenda, already in place was ideal, so we piloted GOH program on two
sites; Hammock Pointe Elementary, overseen by teacher Mrs. Holly Nilsen, and Plumosa School of the Arts,
with Media Specialist - Mrs. Sally Smollar.

126 FY19 and FY20 Wellness Promotion Policy (WPP) Annual Report BACK to Menu 127