Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools) is proud to announce that Armistead Gardens Elementary/Middle School (Armistead Gardens) and Belmont Elementary School have been recognized in the America’s Healthiest Schools program, which is sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and presented by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
“Supporting the health and well-being of our students and staff is an important part of helping our school communities thrive,” said Dr. Jermaine Dawson, CEO, City Schools. “We are proud of Armistead Gardens and Belmont Elementary Schools for their commitment to creating environments where students and staff can learn, grow, and succeed. This recognition reflects the work happening every day to support the whole child and build healthier school communities as units of change.”
The program honors schools across the nation that demonstrate a strong commitment to the whole health of students and staff. One of the country’s longest-running school recognition programs, it celebrates schools that put in place best practices and policies promoting the physical, mental and social-emotional well-being of students, staff and families.
Armistead Gardens and Belmont were recognized for achievements in one or more of the program’s focus areas, which are designed to help schools create healthier, more supportive learning environments.
“What makes me proudest is that wellness no longer feels like an initiative at Belmont—it is simply part of who we are. You see it in our mindfulness and SEL work, Wellness Wednesdays, physical activity and Walking Classrooms, healthy food and hydration lessons, Great Kids Farm experiences, our wellness space, family activities, community partnerships, and in the way we intentionally connect health, attendance, relationships, and learning. We want our children to understand that being healthy includes their bodies, their minds, their emotions, and how they care for themselves and one another," said Belmont Elementary Principal Tiffany Etheridge.
Healthy school environments help students learn, support staff well-being and strengthen school communities. The America’s Healthiest Schools recognition honors schools that take deliberate steps to ensure students and staff the opportunities and support they need to improve their overall health and well-being.
“It is a great honor to be selected again as one of America's Healthiest Schools. At Armistead Gardens, we believe that our school must be the center of our community so that we can serve our families. We also believe that our staff deserve the same level of support and this recognition affirms our work to ensure staff feel valued each and every day,” said Armistead Gardens Elementary Middle School Principal Justin Holbrook.
Baltimore City Public Schools thanks the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Kaiser Permanente for recognizing the important work of schools across the country to support the physical, mental, and social-emotional health of their communities.
To learn more about America’s Healthiest Schools and view the full list of honorees, visit the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s America’s Healthiest Schools webpage.