CHULA VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Chula Vista Elementary School District (CVESD) became the first Live Well San Diego school district on April 17, 2013. CVESD has taken active steps to improve student health by addressing factors that contribute to childhood obesity. CVESD revamped and enhanced their school wellness policy to address childhood obesity—removing chocolate milk from the menu, limiting cupcakes and other unhealthy treats for student birthday celebrations and making other systemic changes. In 2010, the district measured the BMI of more than 24,000 students, preschool through sixth grade, then made significant changes to its wellness policies and practices, and then measured again in 2012 to determine if its efforts were having an impact. Full details of the CVESD BMI surveillance project can be viewed within the Results and Next Steps section of the Year Three Annual Report.

In an effort to share best practices for living well throughout the region, CVESD, using Healthy Works grants, mentors other school districts in San Diego County to develop and implement comprehensive school wellness policies. CVESD partners with Healthy Communities South Region (the Live Well San Diego team for HHSA’s South Region), which is the outgrowth of the Healthy Eating, Active Communities (HEAC) initiative. CVESD continues to serve as a key role model for school health and wellness both locally and on a national scale.