OCPS celebrates earning Healthy School District honors

Orange County Public Schools is celebrating its achievements in the arena of health and nutrition.

During the Oct. 22 School Board meeting, board members and district representatives celebrated earning the gold-level Florida Healthy School District Award.

According to OCPS, the district was required to score at gold level in each of the component areas of Coordinated School Health in order to win this award. It also had to focus on district infrastructure, policy, programs and practices identified in state and national guidelines and Florida Statutes.

"Highlighted scores were in the areas of Health Services and Family and Community Involvement," the district stated.

According to Safe and Healthy Schools, the Florida Healthy District Award "was created by the Florida Partnership for Healthy Schools, formerly known as the Florida Coordinated School Health Partnership, to recognize school districts that have implemented policies, practices and procedures that support health and remove barriers to learning."

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

• The district is recognizing Oct. 23 through 31 as National Red Ribbon Week. Thousands of schools across the country use this time to engage youth in dialogue about the importance of making positive life choices and avoiding the temptation to use drugs and alcohol. One of OCPS' new Red Ribbon-certified schools this year is West Orange High.

• OCPS District Police Chief Bryan Holmes, designated as the OCPS School Safety Specialist, presented his annual update to the board on school safety and security personnel, policies and procedures.