Our school has formed a School Health Council (SHC) committed to implementing coordinated school health. SHC members represent our school and community and are committed to school health. They help develop a plan and assist in implementing the actions determined to be high priority in improving the health of our schools.

Coordinated School Health is a program developed by the CDC that looks at the following 8 components: Health Education; Physical Education; Health Services; Nutrition Services; Counseling, Psychological & Social Services; School Environment; Staff Wellness; and Family & Community Involvement. A CSHT has the important role of overseeing the development of policies and recommendations for changes that offer opportunities for students to make healthy choices.

The Michigan State Board of Education Policy on School Health Programs to Support Academic Achievement and Healthy Schools states, “The Board is convinced that Coordinated School Health Programs can positively impact student academic achievement and empower students with knowledge, skills and judgment essential to help them make healthy and responsible choices in life.”
It is strongly recommended that our team include an administrator, a physical education and health education teacher, a school nurse, a parent, our school’s food service director, and the school counselor. It is also suggested that these other key people be involved on our team: a coach or athletic director, a family and consumer science teacher, and a parent/teacher organization representative. It is also recommended for middle or high schools that a student be a part of the team. Our SHC contains all of these important people.

Implementation of a CSHT has been shown to raise test scores, decrease teen pregnancies, decrease suspensions/detentions/expulsions, decrease juvenile crime rates, and improve graduation rates.

Please contact Tina Varney, RN at tvarney@jonesvilleschools.org for more information.