(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – This week, District of Columbia public schools celebrated its 4th Annual Growing Healthy Schools Week, an initiative aimed at engaging public school students in activities around the benefits of growing and eating locally grown, fresh foods. Sponsored by the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), 59 DC public and public charter schools are participated throughout the week.  

Research shows there is a critical connection between health and academic achievement in youth. In the District, 43 percent of school-age children are obese or overweight. Since 2010, the D.C. Healthy Schools Act and efforts such as Growing Healthy Schools Week have worked to provide learning experiences for both students and their families that teach healthy and active living practices.

The annual week celebrates healthy living through classroom lessons and field trips that teach students about the connections between food, their health, and the environment. Every year, the celebration includes a school garden bike (and bus) tour followed by a live chef competition. This year’s activities also included a 5K run/walk on the National Mall, a teacher panel discussion on how to implement components of the D.C. Healthy Schools Act in their classroom and a host of classroom visits from local chefs, dietitians, chefs, farmers and athletes.

Each year, OSSE’s school garden program recognizes the District’s top school garden’s  for sustainability and also awards the best new school garden. The winning schools are awarded $500 to further the school garden program as well as a custom-made golden shovel. This year’s winners included: