Missouri
During the 2020–2021 school year, Missouri Healthy Schools (MHS) provided technical assistance to nearly 3,000 people. MHS also provided professional development to 8,692 people over the course of nearly 300 hours of training. As part of this effort, MHS created videos, webinars, and newsletters to address COVID-19 guidance in employee and student social and emotional wellbeing, food service operations, and physical education.
This support, professional development, and training were by the collaboration of many partners, including CDC Healthy Schools, Education Plusexternal icon (a respected training provider), MOSHAPEexternal icon, SHAPE Americaexternal icon, Societyexternal icon for Public Health Educationexternal icon, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). AAP provided a number of highly regarded pediatricians sitting on COVID-19 guidance boards who were able to consult with MHS and participate in the trainings. This assistance helped MHS during the COVID-19 pandemic when everything shifted to a virtual platform and the major focus became disseminating COVID-19 guidance in a timely manner. As a result of these efforts, districts and schools implemented a variety of activities aimed at increasing the health of both staff and students.
Social and Emotional Well-Being
Missouri was one of at least six states that included “wellness days” in their school year to help students and staff decompress. For example, Ladue School District in the St. Louis area built in extra “wellness days” around the Thanksgiving holiday. Instead of just taking Thanksgiving Day and the day after of, the district closed for the entire week of Thanksgiving. This extra time allowed students and teachers extra time for themselves and their families. It also gave them extra time away from the stress of school.
On October 19, 2021, Dr. Chris Kilbride announced that Monday, November 1, would be a paid day of for every Ritenour School District employee. The only expectation for the day was that “every staff member, no matter how you serve the students in our district, take the day for self-care—rest, refresh, and recharge.”
Food Service Operations and Nutrition Education
Providing nutritious food to people in need is a priority during trying times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ritenour School District opened the Husky Support Center, which is the home of the district’s bus depot and the Ritenour Co-Care Food Pantryexternal icon. The Ritenour Co-Care Food Pantry provides free food to about 750 families in the school district per month.
As another example, University City School District has launched a student-led sustainability class. This interactive activity allows students to garden, learn bee-keeping skills, and raise chickens. The district also has distributed 908,739 free meals to district children and families over the pandemic via a Grab-n-Go and meal delivery program.
Physical Activity
One Missouri school district was determined to increase student physical activity at a time when sedentary behaviors are on the rise. They decided to host a COLOR runexternal icon. In this untimed, 5-kilometer event, Color Runners were “sprayed” from head to toe at each kilometer with a different colored powder. They started of wearing all white outfits, but finish covered in color. The fun continues in post-event activities. Not only does the run provide physical activity, but it also provides a fun activity that can contribute to the social and emotional well-being of students.
