Champion health in our schools with Green Apple Day of Service 2016

Published on: 
August 22, 2016
Author: 
Amanda Sawit

Schools have a direct impact on student and teacher health. Improving cleanliness, lighting quality, indoor air quality, lunchroom nutrition and physical activity can boost health and wellness and make the school day better for students, teachers and staff. 

Join us, and together, we’ll build a healthier, brighter future for our children. Here are some ideas for how to address health in your school: 

Assess the air

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, people spend 90 percent of their time indoors, where pollutant levels can reach levels significantly higher than outdoors. Going through an air quality audit or checklist helps identify possible sources of pollution and find solutions. 

Fun with fitness

Physical activity can come in all forms and at any time of day. Promote student and staff health by providing fun opportunities for active learning. Remember to track your impact through minutes of physical activity for students and staff, especially if you can sustain an increase over a period of time. In June, Green Sports Alliance hosted this year’s first flagship Green Apply Day of Service project at Yes Prep Northside in Houston, Texas. 

Adopt green cleaning practices

Green cleaning protects health and promotes better learning environments, reducing environmental hazards that negatively affect student growth and development. Training custodians on effective cleaning processes is essential for keeping schools healthy places for students to learn, which in turn keeps kids in school, achieving their highest potential. 

Don’t forget to track your progress: take note of minutes of physical activity, servings of fruits and vegetables eaten or reduced grams of sugar served. You can measure impacts on your school's environmental health by assessing school cleanliness, taking steps to improve lighting quality and evaluating indoor air quality through CO2 and humidity. For more ideas to support your community schools, visit greenapple.org

Have you done a Green Apple Day of Service project this year and want to share your story? Send a note to us

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