Gold Country
Regional Award Winner
Regional Award Winner
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Victory Elementary submitted the following three essays for consideration of the Governor's Challenge Competition Grand Prize: Essay 1 - Commitment to Promoting Healthy Eating on Campus When Victory students began the Governor’s Challenge, snacks were “Hot-Cheetos” and a soda. Today Victory students are making healthy choices all on their own. The cafeteria prepares breakfast, lunch and snacks with the goal of appealing to the younger palate. Teachers and parents are working together to promote healthy eating habits. At lunch time Victory’s new salad bar offers a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Students make their own choice of a hot entrée and add to it from the salad bar. Choices have resulted in students making healthier selections and taking lower calorie foods. After school, there is a nutritious snack that includes milk or juice. This keeps the children energized throughout the afternoon. Our science curriculum includes nutrition, the food pyramid, and healthy food choices. Teachers encourage and model bringing your own water-bottle. Morning recess has become an “Energy Break” for many. Teachers and students bring out their apples, oranges, crackers and cheese (no junk food allowed!). Victory School has hosted several parent meetings through the First 5 program. Nutritionists from UC Davis shared ideas and recipes for healthy eating and menu planning. Parents supported local dental school students doing dental screenings. “A Tavola Together” (Kids Can Cook) taught students and parents to plan and prepare healthy meals at home. Victory’s goal has been to increase health and fitness for all. The new school year will bring an expanded program of nutritional education, more opportunities for fitness and incentives for parents, teachers, staff, and students to get active. The “Pounds Pitched for Posterity” club, poster contest, essay writing contest, and “Apple a Day” will promote healthy eating on campus. Essay 2 - Support of Students’ Physical Activity and Fitness Victory teachers quickly realized the power of physically fit students in relation to academic success. The Governor’s Challenge was embraced by the students and further encouraged by teachers and parents. Outside agencies offered their services and community wide events provided opportunities for our students to excel in physical activity. Victory School has its own closed-circuit television station which is used daily for opening activities and announcements. Students are reminded to get moving and to document their weekend activities. The lunch menu is read so everyone knows the selections for that day. During lunch recess a P.E. teacher organizes the Victory School Athletic League. For each activity (football, softball, volleyball, basketball, track and field) he teaches the rules and playing techniques. The YMCA works with teams in basketball, softball, and flag football. They then participate in intramural games with other schools. The Stockton Parks and Recreation Department provide another opportunity for organized team sports. Volunteer coaches include staff, teachers, and parents. Through the March of Dimes Walk-a-Thon, Jump Rope for Heart, Red Ribbon Week, and Emergency Food Bank, our students helped others while getting stronger and healthier. In May, students took part in the 30th annual Kennedy Games an Olympic style Track and Field event. Record Holders are posted on the Victory School cafeteria wall for the 25 and 50 yard dash, softball throw, and soccer kick. A students’ name stays on the wall until the record is broken. Victory students are energetic and eager to continue becoming active and fit. The Student Council continues to plan fun events getting everyone moving. The annual Health Walk will be a kick off for “Walking for Victory” which will track all the miles run or walked during the year. More parents, teachers and staff will be involved in getting healthy and fit. Essay 3- Need For a New Fitness Center Victory School sits in a pocket of urban Stockton surrounded on the north by a canal and on the west and south by Interstate 5. The community has few resources and many residents have limited transportation. Stockton has recently been identified as having the highest per capita rate of violent crimes in California. Victory students are not immune. Earlier this year we experienced the tragic gang-related shooting death of an 8th grade student. Victory School’s low-income families compose 80% of the school based on free or reduced-price meals. This is over the state average of 50%. Over half of our students are of Latino/Hispanic decent and 20% speak little or no English. Many of our students suffer from asthma, hay fever, allergies, or other respiratory diseases limiting their ability to play outdoors. In California 1.5 million children suffer from asthma. In Stockton environmental factors like dust, second-hand smoke, air pollution and pollen contribute to the high number of asthma sufferers. Victory students will use a fitness center everyday during class and after school. A healthy lifestyle will become the norm for every student and staff member. The fitness center will become a neighborhood center and a safe haven for children. It will provide physical activities for students and increase sportsmanship, cooperation, and life skills which will be emphasized and practiced. Solving problems without resorting to violence will be a key life skill. Students will adopt a culture of good health, wholesome nutrition, and modern fitness concepts. A variety of age appropriate activities like basketball, tennis, volleyball, swimming, individual conditioning, weight training, and cardio aerobics will be available. The Fitness Center at Victory School will provide a safe environment for our children. |
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