TSET Programs Support Updates to Improve Student and Staff Health
STONEWALL, Okla. — The Stonewall Public Schools Board recently approved enhancements to the district’s wellness policy – positively impacting the health of more than 400 students in the Pontotoc County school district. The new policy includes ensuring breakfast is available for students, promoting physical activity in classrooms and supporting lifelong physical activity through PE curriculum.
Stonewall High School students participating in Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL), a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) and a part of the TSET Healthy Youth Initiative, played crucial roles in advocating for these updates. Their evidence-based recommendations helped shape the policies to ensure the greatest impact on youth and staff health.
"The commitment of the Stonewall Public Schools Board to improving wellness policies showcases the importance of nurturing a culture of health in our schools,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director. “By fostering an environment that promotes healthy habits, they are equipping the next generation of Oklahomans with the tools to thrive and succeed."
Three students, Treasure Carrell, Liberti Smith and Mea Cortez, all YAHL members from Stonewall High School, met with district leaders to recommend updates for the district’s wellness policies.
“Investing in your health is the most powerful decision you can make; it’s not just an expense, but a priceless commitment to a vibrant, fulfilling life,” said Carrell. “Choose wellness today and watch how it transforms you tomorrow.”
Most children consume as much as half of their daily calories at school, so school districts have a tremendous opportunity to improve the health of their students. TSET’s YAHL program partners with districts across the state to improve their wellness policies through greater access to nutritious foods, increased physical activity and providing more opportunities to drink water throughout the day.
Recent data from the Oklahoma Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) shows that about one in three Oklahoma high school students is classified as overweight or obese, one of the highest rates in the nation. Youth with obesity are at increased risk for chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, mental health challenges like anxiety and depression, and lower self-esteem. Physical inactivity and poor nutrition play significant roles, with fewer than half of Oklahoma high school students getting the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
“Through YAHL, our student leaders here at Stonewall High School took initiative to present wellness policy updates to our administration and school board,” said Greg Lovelis, Superintendent of Stonewall Public Schools. “We are proud to announce that those updates were all approved by the Stonewall Board of Education. We are thankful for our student leaders that have worked diligently to bring meaningful updates to our wellness policy with the Elevate Student Health campaign.”
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The TSET Healthy Youth Initiative empowers Oklahoma youth to improve health outcomes for themselves and future generations. The initiative includes statewide public health education messaging, a youth-led advocacy program and character-building to reduce tobacco use and obesity. The initiative also gives parents resources to support their children in maintaining or developing healthy habits for a lifetime. Visit TSETHealthyYouth.com to learn more.
The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working with local coalitions and initiatives across the state, cultivating innovative and life-changing research and working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public’s health. To learn more, go to Oklahoma.gov/TSET.
TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health