Healthy lunches: Riverview schools get nod for nutrition programs

The Riverview School District is the second school district in King County to achieve the HealthierUS School Challenge designation. The Highline district was recognized in 2012. Five Riverview schools recently achieved the bronze-level designation in the national HealthierUS Schools Challenge. They were recognized with certificates of achievement from the King County Board of Health, which encourages policy, system, and environmental changes that will help create healthy schools and communities for all King County residents.

April 16, 2013 4:49 pm
Riverview School District administrators and staff accepted certificates of achievement from Kathy Lambert. From left are Jack Madigan
Riverview School District administrators and staff accepted certificates of achievement from Kathy Lambert. From left are Jack Madigan

The Riverview School District is the second school district in King County to achieve the HealthierUS School Challenge designation. The Highline district was recognized in 2012.

Five Riverview schools recently achieved the bronze-level designation in the national HealthierUS Schools Challenge. They were recognized with certificates of achievement from the King County Board of Health, which encourages policy, system, and environmental changes that will help create healthy schools and communities for all King County residents.

Certificates of achievement went to Food Services Supervisor Kaye Wetli, who led the effort to apply for the recognition, Carnation, Cherry Valley and Stillwater Elementary Schools, Eagle Rock Multi-Age, and the Riverview Learning Center.

As a member of the Board of Health, King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert presented the certificates at the Jan. 8  meeting of the Riverview School Board.

“I commend the Riverview district and the schools for making the commitment to fight childhood obesity and improve learning and lifelong health with this comprehensive program to improve school nutrition and physical fitness programs,” said  Lambert. “Meeting the rigorous requirements to qualify for this national award is a major achievement, and is of great benefit to the students and their families.”

The HealthierUS School Challenge is a voluntary federal initiative that recognizes schools that have created healthier school environments by meeting standards for nutrition and physical activity. The challenge is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Nutrition Service.

“We’re delighted that the Riverview School District has achieved the HealthierUS Schools Challenge award for five of their schools,” said Donna Oberg the Healthy Eating & Active Living School Coordinator for Public Health Seattle & King County. “Riverview School District is a leader in creating healthier school environments for their students and staff by making the healthy choice the easy choice.”

The King County Board of Health has focused on intervention initiatives for childhood obesity in King County, where 1 in 5 middle and high school students are overweight or obese. Councilmember Lambert chaired the Board’s School Obesity Prevention Committee in 2008 that made school policy recommendations on nutrition and physical activity.