Information for Educators
Programs of interest to educators
Schools play a vital role in the lives of children and adolescents
The Highmark Healthy High 5 children's health promotion thinks of our children as the key to reaching out and promoting healthy behaviors and lifestyles to their friends, families and teachers.
Educators have the opportunity to change the patterns and values of our kids when it comes to their health. Highmark Healthy High 5 provides the resources and tools that will allow you to take the lead in improving the health status of our children.
The Highmark Healthy High 5 focus areas are: nutrition, physical activity, grieving, self-esteem and bullying prevention.
Highmark Healthy High 5 Programs
A vast number of our efforts are being conducted through programs in the schools. Highmark Healthy High 5 encourages educators to take advantage of the myriad of programs that we offer and are available to your school — at no cost.
Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge
The Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge grant program is designed to support schools in introducing programs that will create healthier, more successful students. Through the School Challenge grant program, Highmark Healthy High 5 invites schools and school districts to submit innovative grant proposals for programming to improve nutrition education or increase physical activity.
Eligibility to Submit a Grant Proposal — The first step of the Highmark Healthy High 5 grant application process for schools and school districts is to complete the eligibility screening form. Highmark Foundation awards School Challenge grants throughout the year to elementary, middle and high schools within its service region. Grants cover amounts up to $10,000 per school building. Schools that receive grants are eligible to apply for another grant in the next year. School Challenge grants will be awarded for programs that address either or both of the following topics:
- Nutrition education or services
- Opportunities for physical education or activity
Review the list of schools that received Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge grants and the types of programs that we have funded :
Learn more by completing our eligibility screening.
Nutrition and Physical Activity
- Highmark Healthy High 5 Health eTools for Schools — Highmark Healthy High 5 Health eTools for Schools is a Web-based portal developed by InnerLink, Inc. Customized for Pennsylvania schools, it provides a secure method to calculate, track and report student BMI, (Body Mass Index) in a format required by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Health eTools also provides standards-based, nutrition and physical activities that can be introduced during core academic instructional time, such as Take 10!™. A Wellness Workbook feature facilitates policy change and implementation.
Health eTools for Schools will be funded for participating schools by Highmark Healthy High 5 through August 31, 2013. The actual value of this subsidy is $40,000 for every 5,000 students — and it is free to your school. For information on how your school can become a Health eTools user, call 1-800-988-6983 or visit www.healthetoolsforschools.org.
- nrg Powered by Choice — The Penn State Hershey Center for Nutrition and Activity Promotion developed this campaign with funding from Highmark Healthy High 5 as a physical activity and nutrition program. The program is based upon the knowledge that teens are capable of making healthy choices, care about their health, and want to get involved. Through nrg Powered by Choice, everyone — from band member to school newspaper writer to drama club member to athlete — is encouraged to find personal balance between nutrition and activity. For more information, visit www.poweredbychoice.org.
- LearnToBeHealthy.org — LearntobeHealthy.org is an e-learning initiative created by The Susan P. Byrnes Health Education Center located in York, Pa. Through Highmark Healthy High 5 funding and an expanded partnership with the Center, additional nutrition programming will become available at no cost to schools. Engaging, interactive learning modules, Learn to be Healthy (www.learntobehealthy.org) is designed for students, parents and teachers. The program offers knowledge and skills essential for making proper nutrition choices.
Visit www.LearntobeHealthy.org for more information.
- Highmark Healthy High 5 SPARK Active Recreation — Highmark Healthy High 5 SPARK Active Recreation is a nationally recognized program that affords quality recreational experiences for children in an after-school setting and during in-school recess or recreation periods. SPARK Active Recreation engages all children despite skill level or athletic ability. Through non-competitive, fun games and activities, SPARK Active Recreation engenders lifelong appreciation for and participation in an active lifestyle. Through Highmark Healthy High 5, SPARK training opportunities are available at no cost to those providing after-school or recreational programs for children ages 6 through 13. For information on how to receive SPARK training at your site or for the nearest SPARK program call 1-800-652-9420. For more information about other SPARK programs, visit www.paspark.org.
Self-Esteem
- Highmark Healthy High 5 T.R.U.E. Cards … Life Lessons — Character education curriculum by the Heartwood Institute develops children's moral character and self-esteem through understanding and practice of seven core attributes: Courage, Loyalty, Justice, Respect, Hope, Honesty and Love. Heartwood has distilled the essence of their core curriculum into Highmark Healthy High 5 T.R.U.E. Cards…Life Lessons, which introduce the seven core attributes through a guided approach for discussion with children to help build their self-esteem. Forty-nine cards—seven cards for each of the seven attributes — provide a handy resource for teachers, school counselors and parents. To obtain sets of cards at no cost, go to www.hhh5truecards.org.
Bullying Prevention
- Highmark Healthy High 5 HALT!® – A Bullying Prevention Program — Highmark Healthy High 5 HALT! in cooperation with the Windber Research Institute, is designed to build on the nationally-recognized, evidence-based Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. Highmark Healthy High 5 HALT! will improve supervision, implement classroom rules against bullying and host serious talks with bullies and victims. Other components of HALT! include a School Conference Day to discuss bullying, meetings and parents of bullies and victims, and regular classroom meetings. To learn more, visit www.wriwindber.org.
- PA CARES — PA CARES (Creating an Atmosphere of Respect and Environment for Success) is a program of the Center for Safe Schools which is funded by Highmark Healthy High 5. This program will provide support, resources and materials to school districts across the service region. Additonally it will support professional development for existing Olweus trainers and provide for new ones. The Center for Safe Schools will select up to 75 schools to receive PA CARES initiative funding during 2009. For details, go to www.safeschools.info/pacares.
- Highmark Healthy High 5 Bullying Prevention Institute — Highmark Healthy High 5 Bullying Prevention Institute offers programs for school personnel.
School personnel looking for information about bullying or ways to learn what other schools are doing can now participate in a day-long workshop. To learn more and register, please visit the Highmark Healthy High 5 Bullying Prevention Institute Web site at www.bullyingpreventioninstitute.org.
To learn more about programs offered to schools and in the community, visit Highmark Healthy High 5 Signature Programs page.
