Charter School of Entrepreneurship lands award, Highmark grant for healthy efforts

Triblive | Thursday, October 10, 2024 12:48 p.m.

Courtesy of PHSCE

A banner marks Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship’s designation as one of America’s Healthiest Schools for 2024. Posing for the occasion are (top, from left) third grader Bryce Clinkscales and fourth graders Dezmond Palmer and Camden Nickelson and (bottom, from left) fourth grader Reagan Peays, first grader Kacen Jones, third grader Rehemma Abdirahim, first grader Ariel Titus and fourth grader Cherish Wilson.

The Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship was named one of America’s Healthiest Schools for the fifth consecutive year.

The recognition is awarded by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a children’s health organization that celebrates schools’ dedication to supporting the health and well-being of students, staff and families.

The award is based on recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to promote health and wellness and achieve academic success for school-age children.

PHCSE received recognition in four categories for its wellness and nutrition initiatives: supporting school health services, implementing local school wellness policy, improving nutrition and food access, and increasing family and community engagement.

PHCSE also recently received a $5,000 grant from the Highmark Foundation School Grants Program.

The school plans to use the grant to purchase the ETR HealthSmart Health Education Curriculum, a comprehensive program that addresses functional knowledge and essential skills as outlined by the CDC required for adopting and maintaining healthy behaviors.

The HealthSmart curriculum is a proactive measure to mitigate health care inequities throughout the U.S.