D205 Elementary Schools Complete HealthierUS School Challenge

Submitted by Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205.

All Elmhurst Community Unit District 205 elementary schools recently successfully completed the HealthierUS School Challenge, a program administered by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Since 2011, nearly 350 certifications have been awarded across Illinois for school programs and practices that promote healthy habits.

To qualify for an award, a school must submit an application and meet basic criteria set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. The criteria reflect the recommendations of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the recommendations published by the Institute of Medicine for foods that should be served outside the organized school meals program.

HealthierUS Schools also must demonstrate commitment to a healthy school environment and implement a local school wellness policy. Schools then commit to meeting the criteria throughout a four-year certification period.

A $500 monetary incentive was presented to the following eight award-winning District 205 elementary schools:

• Conrad Fischer School
• Edison School
• Emerson School
• Field School
• Hawthorne School
• Jackson School
• Jefferson School
• Lincoln School