Three new charters join wellness initiative

Three additional charter schools recently joined a one-year-old initiative aimed at fostering health and wellness in charter schools across Colorado.

Sponsored by the Colorado League of Charter Schools and funded with a $705,000 three-year grant from the Colorado Health Foundation, the “Building Healthy Charter Schools Initiative” will include a total of nine schools for the 2014-15 school year. The new additions this year include High Point Academy in Aurora, Downtown Denver Expeditionary School and Children’s Kiva Montessori Charter School in Cortez.

Under the program, visiting wellness advisors work with participating schools to conduct needs assessments, create wellness policies and promote wellness activities. Schools pay about $4,000 to participate in the program. Besides helping participating schools become healthier, the program is intended to help organizers determine what wellness efforts are most sustainable and scalable in the state.

The original six schools to join the collaborative in 2013 will continue participating this year. They include Global Village Academy in Northglenn, Ross Montessori Charter School in Carbondale, Chavez-Huerta K-12 Preparatory Academy in Pueblo, Carbondale Community Charter School, Indian Peaks Charter School in Granby and Platte River Academy in Highlands Ranch.