This site is designed to provide you with the information you need to develop and implement local plans for addressing H1N1 in schools. You can download parent letters, health education lesson plans, handwashing webinars, posters, custodial training, links to other websites and many other great resources. Please contact the Office of Healthy Schools at 601 359 1737 for more information.
Health in Action
puts health and physical education activities at your fingertips
This database provides hundreds of health and physical education activity ideas in one central online search site where activities can be viewed, searched, re-sorted, and printed. Written by Mississippi teachers, the lesson plans available on Health in Action are designed specifically to help educators fulfill the requirements of the Mississippi Healthy Students Act.
Office of Healthy Schools Press Releases
In order to provide information for local school districts and communities, create awareness, and highlight local successes, the Office of Healthy Schools provides recent press releases, radio interviews, and brochures to support a coordinated approach to school health.
2008 Healthy Mississippi Summit - Hosted by Governor & First Lady Marsha Barbour and the Mississippi Department of Education the summit brought together representatives from across the state to address childhood obesity. Local, State & National presenters shared information, resources and success stories focusing on education and prevention. To view the agenda, interviews and powerpoint presentations from the December 17th event click on the provided link.
FreeStyle Campaigns are scheduled across the state to educate Mississippi's youth on tobacco prevention. Smoking rates have stagnated rather than decreased and smokeless obacco use is on the rise. To learn more about this nontraditional approach and date/location information for your area click on the provided link.
The Office of Coordinated School Health, in cooperation with the Mississippi Alliance for School Health, is pleased to announce the winners of the Mississippi Alliance for School Health Magnolia Meltdown Wellness in My School Contest.
School-Based Body Mass Index (BMI)
School-based body mass index (BMI) School-based body mass index (BMI) measurement has attracted much attention across the nation from researchers, school officials, legislators, and the media as a potential approach to address obesity among youth.
Success Stories
Improving the health of our students is more than just a good idea or a nice gesture; it's a crucial investment in the future of Mississippi. Our "Health is Academic" initiative is designed to ensure that all of our school children are fit, healthy and ready to succeed!
Take a look at how our schools are already working to improve the health of Mississippi's students and submit your own Success Story.
Success Story Archives
2009 Success Stories
Opportunities for Success
Healthy School Environments Measuring Up
The  Health is Academic initiative is proving to be a successful investment in achieving healthy school environments. Many schools and districts throughout Mississippi are now making improvements in nutrition and physical activity. The Office of Healthy Schools would like to recognize school successes in promoting a healthy school environment to support the link between the health of udents and academic achievement. Please submit a success reporting form to have your school included in these many Mississippi successes. For more information please contact Christine Philley at cphilley@mde.k12.ms.us.
Mississippi Provides Children a Safe School Environment
The  health and well-being of children greatly depends on the quality and safety of their physical and social/emotional environment at school. Well-designed school buildings, grounds and transportation systems are all necessary to provide safe settings for children. In addition, schools have a responsibility to address emotional and social conditions that create positive school climates. To guide schools in addressing the elements necessary for creating Safe and Orderly Schools, the Office of Healthy Schools has designed a template that may be used to develop a School Safety Manual.
Healthy Schools = Healthy Communities
Promoting student wellness is essential for a number of reasons. Not only does student wellness impact student achievement, but it also it also has an economic effect on school districts. When student attendance is linked to the level of funding for schools, absences resulting from unhealthy children can significantly affect schools financially. With the development and implementation of a Local School Wellness Policy, the entire community is encouraged to become involved in promoting wellness and prevention practices that benefit all citizens.
Mississippians know first hand the importance of hurricane preparedness in reducing the effects of a hurricane disaster. The Mississippi Department of Education in conjunction with key state agencies has developed a thorough emergency evacuation plan that will be put in place when activated by the MS mergency Management Agency (MEMA).
 Vending Regulations for Mississippi Schools
In 2006 the Mississippi Board of Education adopted a policy regulating the food and beverage items that can be sold to students. To stay up-to-date with policies and current information regarding food and beverage vending items, visit Vending Regulations for Mississippi Schools.
Health and Learning Go Hand in Hand
 Schools represent an environment where children can learn to succeed academically as well as learn to make healthy lifestyle choices necessary to become productive adults. An effective approach works in partnership with school staff and parents and extends out into the community. Coordinated school health should be designed to meeteach communities' specific needs; however, our office has provided a guide to Coordinated School Health Implementation.
Is a self-assessment tool for schools to identify their strengths and weakness in order to develop an appropriate action plan to improve school nutrition and physical activity.
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