The Wisconsin School Health Awards presented NHS with a bronze award on Oct. 26.

This award is a “way to recognize and celebrate schools with policies, programs, and the infrastructure to support and promote healthy school programming; parental and community involvement; and staff wellness” said the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (http://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/coordinated-school-health/wisconsin-school-health-award).

As this time-consuming, thought-provoking project may seem, the paperwork was spearheaded by Mrs. Vicki Dohr, with the help of multiple wellness teachers, as well as, Mrs. Mary Shandonay, Mr. Nate Werner, and NHS’ food service director, who all helped to complete parts of the application, describes Principal Brian Wunderlich.

The award is made up of eight modules. Within these modules, the applicant is asked to answer questions based on if the school has the following criteria in place, or not (NJSD established policies can be found here: http://www.neenah.k12.wi.us/academics/districtwellness.cfm). If the applicants do not have the following criteria in place, they are able to add that section into their action plan, in order to improve and complete that task for the next year.

“Neenah High School is super excited about our bronze award but we certainly would like to see a silver or gold someday!!” said Dohr with the same excitement as a child opening a brand-new present on Christmas morning.

A few ways in which NHS can improve to achieve this glistening glorious gold award is to promote established safe walking and biking paths for students to use in order to get to and from school and to eliminate unhealthy fundraisers, such as calorie-filled, cavity-filling candy bar and bake sales, suggests Wunderlich.

As great as these candy bars seem at the time, studies show that candy bars only give a person about one hour of energy, before the sugar rush busts, and the person is left feeling even more sluggish and cranky than before (More on the study: http://www.nutritionsecrets.com/what-happens-when-you-eat-chocolate/)

With the many improvements already in place, and many more to come, Dohr and her fellow staff members are hoping to make a line of plaques along the front entrance of the gym, so community members can see how NHS is living healthy.