National children’s health organization Alliance for a Healthier Generation designated Chaparral Hills Elementary School and Valley View High School as “America’s Healthiest Schools out of 1,119 K-12 schools nationwide.
The organization posted its list online, identifying several schools for their commitment to advancing whole child health. The annual award program is supported by Del Monte Foods, Kaiser Permanente, and Kohl’s Cares for implementing evidence-based policies and practices to support academic success and lifelong well-being.
“This national recognition is a powerful testament to our district’s strategic commitment to advancing whole-child health,” said Superintendent Dr. Alejandro Ruvalcaba. “The success of our two schools affirms our belief that academic achievement is directly linked to a holistic approach, one that prioritizes social-emotional wellness, community engagement, and the well-being of our dedicated staff. ”
Schools are recognized in nine health-related topic areas. The Moreno Valley Unified School District is pleased to announce Chaparral Hills as the recipient of two topic area distinctions: “Increasing Family and Community Engagement,” and “Strengthening Social-Emotional Health and Learning.” Valley View High School earned the award for the topic “Cultivating Staff Well-Being,” an important category that does not go unnoticed by the school community.
“This is the first time our schools earn these awards,” said School Board President Sammie Luna. “Although all schools value and support these areas, we are excited for two of our schools to be recognized for their outstanding work.”
To earn these designations, Chaparral Hills worked on gathering input on school and family community engagement, providing school resources to support student access, supporting social drivers of health, providing positive motivation methods for student learning, implementing social-emotional learning, creating calming spaces and implementing supportive disciplinary practices.
“It is truly an honor to receive these awards for our school. Supporting the social emotional health of our students is key to enhancing access to a well-rounded education, and we feel that maintaining strong and positive home to school connections is an important part of a child’s success in school,” said Chaparral Hills Elementary School Principal Nicole Moshiri. “It is our goal to ensure that every child feels safe in their learning environment, and that parents can rest assured knowing their children are in a good place.”
Valley View High School promoted positive staff relationships and offered opportunities to express gratitude for staff.
“We are happy to be recognized for our recent efforts to implement team building, appreciation, and gratitude towards staff,” said Valley View High School Principal Christopher Gilliatt. “Throughout the past year, we have done competitions and activities, thank you initiatives, and community builders to engage all of our staff from every department. We also start every staff meeting with Eagle Check-Ins, do monthly shout-outs and employee recognition. As a whole, we wanted to ensure that our staff felt cared for and that they mattered on this campus.
"Schools play a crucial role in positively shaping the health and well-being of our nation's youth, and they deserve national recognition for their outstanding efforts," said Kathy Higgins, CEO of Healthier Generation. "The dedication of school leaders, educators, and staff to support the physical, emotional, and academic needs of their students is nothing short of extraordinary. Their commitment is creating healthier futures for children and communities alike."
Both schools will be recognized by Kaiser Permanente’s representative at an upcoming School Board Meeting in September.