Wonderful Prep Recognized Among America’s Healthiest Schools for 2024
Monday September 9, 2024
The Wonderful College Prep Academy campuses in Delano and Lost Hills have been honored among America’s Healthiest Schools for their exceptional commitment to student and staff well-being. This annual recognition program, awarded by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, celebrates schools nationwide for their role in advancing the physical, mental, and social-emotional health of their communities.
To receive this prestigious honor, Wonderful demonstrated successful implementation of best practices in key wellness areas: implementing local school wellness policies, improving nutrition and food access, bolstering physical education and activity, enriching health education, strengthening social-emotional health and learning, cultivating staff well-being, and increasing family and community engagement.
“As educators across the nation grapple with challenges from historic levels of chronic absenteeism to a youth mental health crisis, America’s Healthiest Schools serve as models of resilience and determination,” said Kathy Higgins, chief executive officer at Healthier Generation. “With support from Healthier Generation’s resources and staff, these award-winning schools are implementing best practices and policies to better serve their learning communities.”
One of Wonderful’s standout features is its Harvest Hall, an on-site dining facility that prepares over 6,500 healthy, scratch-cooked meals daily, free of charge for students and staff. This commitment to nutritious meals is complemented by an array of sports programs—more than 20 in total—including volleyball, basketball, soccer, golf, and track and field, which keep students physically active and engaged.
The schools also feature on-site Wellness Centers, providing free, comprehensive health services such as pediatric care, counseling, vision and hearing screenings, and immunizations. Unique educational programs like Learning Farms teach students how to grow and harvest their own food, while Teaching Kitchens offer classes like Culinary Arts 101, where students learn about nutrition and healthy cooking.
Additionally, the “Soldiers of Change” elective, developed by 10th-grade students, inspires healthier lifestyles through creative marketing campaigns promoting nutrition and wellness among students and families.
Harvest Hall prepares healthy, scratch-cooked meals.
By fostering a culture of health and well-being, WCPA not only empowers students to thrive academically but also equips them with the skills necessary to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives beyond the classroom.
Photos courtesy of The Wonderful Company.
By Robert Meszaros
Rob Meszaros is Director of Communications for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, where he has served since 2012. In his role, Meszaros oversees media relations, internal and external communication strategies, publications, Marcom, branding, and multi-media content creation. Before joining KCSOS, Meszaros was the PIO for CSU Bakersfield and earlier worked for seven years at The Bakersfield Californian.