Healthy School Team Startup Suggestions

from the Winter Park Consortium of Schools 

Healthy School Team (HST) leaders, who have been in place in Winter Park Consortium schools (Winter Park High School and its elementary and middle feeder schools)  since 2002, have some tips to make it easier to get a new HST started:

Brookshire Elementary School

Jana Ricci, HST Coordinator for the Winter Park Consortium of Schools and former HST Leader

When you are putting your team together, include strong supporters as well as “nay sayers.” This is a good way to get skeptics to buy into the program, explained Ricci.

Ms. Ricci also recommends starting small. HSTs should pick one thing at a time to tackle.  For example, if the HST wants to encourage water consumption, it could consider asking parents to send in water bottles for their children.  The Brookshire Elementary school physical education instructor made water bottles mandatory for class. This got children in the habit of carrying around and consuming water during the day. Or if the HST wants to focus on nutrition, it could conduct smoothie-making demonstrations in the classroom, and perhaps ask neighborhood stores to donate ingredients.  It is important to work with local businesses because they can provide a lot of support.

Don’t forget to include parents, Ms. Ricci recommends.  They can be strong partners.

Aloma Elementary

Kathy Styron, HST Leader and Physical Education Instructor

Styron emails staff at the beginning of each school year and invites anyone interested in joining the team to attend a meeting. She said she makes sure attendees know the HST doesn’t involve a huge time commitment and that any amount of help offered will be welcome. “Everyone does what they can, it shouldn't be an added stress,” she said.  “At this meeting, we discuss our goals and give themes to each month.  Although we sometimes wander off the theme path, having themes helps us stay organized.  Each month we brainstorm about activities for the next month.  Once we decide on some activities, we work on what needs to be done and I try to give each person something to be responsible for,” she added.

Audubon Park Elementary

Wayne Talbott, HST Leader and Physical Education Instructor

Talbott said that forming an HST at Audubon Park was not difficult because the school already had a Care Team in place, and the HST is made up of members from that team.  Care Team members already were interested in the health and well-being of the school community.

Hungerford Elementary School

Vicki Felter, HST Leader and Physical Education Instructor

Felter said people from all departments were invited to join the school’s HST. The group includes representatives from food service, family services, computer technology, classroom teachers, physical education, the CHILL program, as well as the school nurse and others. “We meet on a day and time that most can attend, she said, but noted “sometimes the date varies to accommodate as many members as possible.”

Lake Sybelia Elementary School

Susan Maddox, HST Leader and teacher

Maddox recommends HST leaders set meeting schedules ahead of time and then publicize them. (Her meeting time is 8 a.m. the first Monday of every month.) Members then will know about meetings in advance and can plan accordingly.

Winter Park High School

Chris Watson, RN, HST Leader and School Nurse

Watson said it is especially helpful to also have students participate on HSTs at the high school level. “We have found the students really bring a different perspective when looking at some of the issues and also how best to target their peer group when it comes to special projects, etc.  They have the best fresh ideas!!”