Healthy Champions

 

Enrollment is CLOSED for the 2024/2025 school year! Enrollment for the 2025/2026 school year will open in Spring 2025.  

The Healthy Champions program is a FREE initiative that assists school health leaders with fostering an environment that supports children’s health and wellbeing. Penn State PRO Wellness, in partnership with The GIANT Company, provides enrolled schools, also known as ‘Champions,’ with FREE health education materials at the beginning of the school year. Champions are encouraged to use these materials and additional resources, which can be found in the portal, to host signature events and to help teach youth and their families how to bring healthier choices to life.

Is your school a Healthy Champion?
Check the map here to find out if they are enrolled.
Take the Assessment School Portal

Program sponsored by The GIANT Company

Frequently Asked Questions

  • When does enrollment open?

    Enrollment is open from March – August for the following program year; the program year aligns with a standard school year (September – June).

  • I am a teacher/school administrator; how do I enroll my school?

    To enroll in the Healthy Champions program, a school representative must complete the online assessment. After the assessment is complete, each enrolled school is provided with a personalized score based on the reported wellness initiatives in multiple areas of school wellness, including physical activity, nutrition, mental wellness, parent engagement and community engagement.

  • How can I check to see if my school has already enrolled as a Healthy Champion?
    • Click here to see if your school is already on the Healthy Champions’ map.
      • If you DO see your school on the map, hooray! Your school is already a Healthy Champion!
      • If you DON’T see your school on the map, simply complete the online assessment to enroll.

    Map is updated on a weekly basis.

  • I am a parent; how can I help advocate and encourage my child’s school to enroll?
    • Parents play a vital role in advocating for health education programs at their child’s school. Help advocate and spread the word about the Healthy Champions program with the following steps:
      • First, click here to see if your child’s school is already on the Healthy Champions’ map.
        • If you DO see your child’s school on the map, hooray! Your school is already a Healthy Champion!
        • If you DON’T see your child’s school on the map, simply request a meeting or send the following message along to a school administrator: “This is a FREE program that has the flexibility to allow the school to use as many or as few resources as needed! The school will have hundreds of resources to choose from! The Healthy Champions program also acts as an overall School Wellness Assessment that is now required by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)! Did I mention, it’s FREE to all schools – public and private, K-12?”
  • Is it true that the Healthy Champions program meets the School Wellness Assessment requirement that is mandated by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)?

    Yes! The health of a student is directly related to their academic performance. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) recognizes the need for schools to support the whole child and also acknowledges the value of health and wellness in supporting learning and academic achievement. Regular assessments enable your school to identify target areas to improve your school’s culture of wellness. The Healthy Champions’ enrollment assessment includes indicators for: nutrition and physical activity, psychological and social services, school health environment, and school health and wellness policy. Because the Healthy Champion program provides you with a score report after enrollment, annual re-enrollment is a simple way to track and evaluate progress and/or areas of need.

  • What are the signature events?

    Nutrition Events

    Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a child’s daily diet as they provide essential vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients for good health. Yet, one quarter of school-age children do not touch vegetables and over one third will eat no fruit during the course of a day.

    Help students in your school develop a love for nature’s fast food, by celebrating fruits and vegetables during Apple Crunch on October 20, 2022, and Go for the Greens on April 12, 2023.

    Physical Activity & Physical Education Events

    The Institute of Medicine recommends that children expend 50 percent of their daily energy while in school. Support your school’s efforts to make every day an active day by taking advantage of lessons and activities, events and programs designed to help students meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily moderate activity and develop activity habits for life. Celebrate physical fitness during Walk to School day on October 4, 2022, and Move it Outside on May 3, 2023.

    Enroll as a Healthy Champion to access free event resources. Enter the password protected portal to access the following materials:

    • Signature event webinars
    • Social media toolkits
    • Printable event posters and stickers
    • Morning announcements and newsletter articles
    • Tips on how to organize a team
    • How to plan and promote a signature event
    • Ways to celebrate nutrition and physical activity all year long
  • Will Penn State PRO Wellness help my school host a signature event?

    Please submit event requests for consideration to PROwellness@pennstatehealth.psu.edu. Requests are noted, not guaranteed.

  • Does my school qualify for FREE Hershey Bears® hockey tickets?

    Through collaboration with the Hershey Bears® Hockey Club, actively enrolled Healthy Champion schools in 19 south-central Pennsylvania counties are provided an opportunity for each student to attend a Hershey Bears® hockey game. To determine if your school qualifies, ask yourself the following questions:

    • Is your school located in one of the following Pennsylvania counties? Adams, Berks, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, Union or York counties*.
      • If your answer is yes, please continue. 
    • Is your school on the Healthy Champions’ map? Click to view the map.
      • If your answer is no, simply click here to enroll today to get your school on the map! Once your school* activates their Healthy Champion’s account, the entire school will receive Hershey Bears® hockey tickets.
      • If your answer is yes, hooray! Your school* is already a Healthy Champion and has secured the exclusive Hershey Bears® hockey tickets for the entire school.
  • How do I enter the password protected portal?

    Click the button above to access the portal. Enter the password when prompted. If you are unsure of the password, reference the welcome email or letter that accompanied your All-Star Kit, the portal’s password is enclosed.

  • My school is not enrolled and the enrollment period has closed, could I still access the portal’s resources?

    Contact PROwellness@pennstatehealth.psu.edu with inquiries and requests.

  • Who do I contact with questions about signature events or the Healthy Champions program?

    Contact PROwellness@pennstatehealth.psu.edu with any program or event questions.