Crescent Elementary Becomes First Certified Healthy School in Kern County

Kern County Public Health and Greenfield Union School District (GFUSD) Nutrition Services celebrated a significant milestone in promoting student health and wellness this week, as Crescent Elementary School became the first Certified Healthy School in Kern County. This designation is part of Public Health’s new Certified Healthy Schools Initiative, which recognizes schools that serve nutritious and well-balanced meals to students.

“We’re extremely excited to be able to launch this endeavor,” said Kern County Public Health Director Brynn Carrigan. “It is setting our community up for our future generations to be healthier.”

The Certified Healthy program, originally designed for restaurants, evaluates meal options based on key health factors such as sodium intake, calorie, and fat content, and the availability of fruits, vegetables, and vegetarian choices. Expanding this initiative into schools highlights the importance of early education and shaping lifelong healthy habits.

“In Kern County, we struggle from extremely high rates of obesity and chronic disease,” Carrigan explained. “Equipping our community with the education, knowledge, and skills to eat healthier so that we can combat those diseases is extremely important. Starting with our children is key.”

Public health officials presented Crescent Elementary School with the Certified Healthy School certificate and updated the cafeteria inspection grade card to reflect this achievement. The school met all program standards by incorporating more whole grains, fresh vegetables, and fruits while reducing sodium and unhealthy fats in their meals. 

Josh Rogers, director of nutrition Services for Greenfield Union School District, expressed pride in the recognition, saying that school meals can be both nutritious and flavorful.

“The stigma with parents and students is that school food is bad,” Rogers explained. “I would encourage everybody to try it because it’s changed over the years, and we’re always striving to make things better.” 

The Certified Healthy Schools Gold standard furthers the commitment by emphasizing locally sourced ingredients, scratch cooking, and edible gardens. This designation is also available for schools aiming to set a higher benchmark. Rogers wants to see other schools around the county follow Crescent’s lead and get certified.

“This is a great opportunity for my staff and I to be recognized for all the hard work we have done to improve student health,” he said. “I encourage other districts to do the same, and I look forward to my fellow directors around the county receiving their certifications as well.”

For families seeking healthier dining options, the Certified Healthy program also applies to local restaurants. Community members can look for the Certified Healthy label to make informed food choices.

For more information about the program and how to qualify as a Certified Healthy School, visit the Kern County Public Health Website.

Kids get second chance breakfast at newly designated Certified Healthy School.