Welcome to Coordinated School health programs

SAD 75 is in the business of providing students the tools to be healthy. They truly believe that healthy students are better able and more ready to learn. Superintendent Michael Wilheim believes that this philosophy has been put into practice in SAD 75. A priority has been established to assist students to be functioning well in a supportive educational environment.

There are 13.5 specialists for health education and physical education in MSAD 75, demonstrating the strong support of the district’s school board. The School Health Coordinator helps to coordinate K-5 comprehensive health education by assisting with the full implementation of the district’s curriculum.

In the middle school program, the health education teachers have successfully integrated technology into their interactive and comprehensive program.

In the high school, students value what they learn in health education. They stated that they “loved” what they were learning! Students were clearly excited about health education and wanted more because it was important and was meaningful and helpful in their own lives.

MSAD 75 coordinates health education with other components of a coordinated school health program. There is a strong guidance program that augments what is taught in health education. Students receive additional instruction in communication skills, safety, tobacco, drugs, and alcohol prevention, safe touch, and puberty education.

School health services are readily available and accessible to students and focus on meeting individual student needs. This is considered vital to the health and well-being of the students and their readiness to learn.

There is a high level of support from the school librarians focusing on literacy and informational resources that are integrated into classroom health instruction.

The SAD 75 Employee Assistance Program has brought the importance of employee health and wellness to the forefront as a priority. Staff wellness further instills the importance of healthy role models and conveys the importance of healthy behaviors to the students in a meaningful manner. The teachers, in turn, recognize the importance and value of health education. This belief leads to the teaching of the whole child.

Congratulations to SAD 75 for receiving the 2006 Exemplary Award in Health Education.

In SAD #75, there is no specific health education specialist assigned to the elementary schools rather, every elementary teacher is required to teach health education. At each grade level, health education is taught at two levels. There is the overt level where health units are a planned part of the day and students learn about health content. Then there is the less obvious level where health is taught daily by gently reminding students about acceptable health behavior such as washing hands properly, selecting something from the salad bar at lunch, or taking physical activity breaks to energize the brain. It is all these day-to-day reminders that make the elementary teachers so instrumental in helping promote student health and wellness. Accepting this honor for the elementary teachers is Catherine Fox.

The Health Education Focus Group has been working collaboratively on the health education curriculum for the District for almost ten years. This may sound like a “bad” thing but in fact it is a “good” thing and attests to the dedication and tenacity of these professionals. This group is continually revising the curriculum based on assessment results and behavioral data. Group members are good at being able to see the entire curriculum and not just their little pieces they teach, thus helping each other collectively problem solve. Accepting this honor for the Health Education Focus Group is Lisa Thompson.

Behind every successful initiative there is a visionary who has the foresight to dream a little and the ability to make that dream a reality. Michael Wilhelm is that kind of person. Five years ago, he wanted the SAD 75 to develop a strong health education program in the elementary grades to mirror the excellent work already being done at the middle and high school levels. Through his leadership and personal commitment and by providing the Health Education Focus Group with the needed resources, the District has achieved his goal. It is my honor to present the outstanding leadership award to Michael Wilhelm.

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