2025 Healthy School - O'Bannon Elementary School

Grant Awarded: $50,000

A healthy school begins with an action plan and clear goals to actively encourage school personnel, students and their families to adopt healthy behaviors. At O’Bannon Elementary School, a comprehensive health education program is offered to foster healthy nutrition and active lifestyles. Schoolwide movement breaks, monthly staff wellness activities and health fairs, among other wellness opportunities led by the School Health Council, play an active role in promoting health and well-being.

O’Bannon Elementary School took a bold step in launching “Screens Down, Wellness Up,” formalizing tech-free activities throughout the day and encouraging movement, creativity and face-to-face interactions. Since the implementation of this initiative, students are communicating in the classroom and enthusiastic about physical education and creative play.

The impact of the “Caught Eating Healthy” initiative at O’Bannon Elementary School has significantly increased the intake of healthy and nutritious foods among staff and students. This challenge recognizes students with quarterly awards and staff with incentives for modeling healthy eating behaviors.

With the $50,000 grant award, O’Bannon Elementary School plans to add a walking trail for use by the school and community.

2025 Healthy School - Pascagoula High School

Grant Awarded: $50,000

With the implementation of “Wellness Wednesdays,” developed by the Pascagoula High School Health Council in partnership with community stakeholders, students and staff are learning positive strategies impacting their physical and mental health. During the Wednesday lunch wave, opportunities are presented to engage in CPR training, interact with therapy animals, participate in healthy cooking classes, attend physical exercise sessions and join relationship-building communication activities. The overall impact of this initiative has increased students’ academic successes and integrated student volunteer services throughout the community.

During health classes, Pascagoula High School students participate in seminars and labs promoting the physical and mental benefits to living nicotine-free. Creative lessons include a wide array of activities with topics such as Respiratory and Cardiovascular Health, Enhancing Physical Senses, Reducing Anxiety and Stress and Increasing Energy and Endurance, among other topics. Taking an important step to prioritize student safety, school leadership added vape detectors to restrooms creating healthier learning environments and supporting quick staff interventions.

Pascagoula High School students participating in culinary arts use hydroponic gardens to grow and harvest fresh produce for healthy cooking activities. Students refurbished two greenhouses on campus to expand garden activities.

Fun, healthy challenges are part of everyday school culture at Pascagoula High School such as the “Walk It Out Challenge” providing students and teachers with the option to walk outside during homeroom. Classes compete for the most steps walked to win prizes and incentives.

As a 2025 Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation Healthy School Award winner, Pascagoula High School plans to use the $50,000 grant award to upgrade the staff wellness program, implement additional social and emotional learning activities and further improve access to healthy nutrition.