School Health and Wellness
Comprehensive school health and wellness incorporates physical activity, nutrition, and obesity prevention for students in pre-K through grade 12 — addressed through school educational planning, curricula, and community partnerships.
Fiscal Year 2026
AHL Healthy Schools Mini-Grant Program
The Division of Public Health's (DPH) Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity Prevention (PANO) program has awarded mini-grants to 9 early childcare education (ECE) centers under the Advancing Healthy Lifestyles (AHL) Initiative — supporting pilot healthy lifestyles programming and policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change strategies.
CACC Montessori’s “How Does Our Garden Grow” program creates a sustainable, hands-on outdoor classroom where children from infancy to age six develop healthy habits and physical skills through gardening, nutrition education, and active exploration of the natural world.
Children’s Laughter Early Learning Academy empowers young children and their families to build lifelong healthy habits by promoting nutritious eating, increasing physical activity, and supporting routines that improve overall well-being.
Georgette Minnick’s program combines structured physical activities and unstructured play to help children develop imagination, creativity, physical strength, and healthy habits through age-appropriate games, cooperative exercises, and daily movement routines.
Lake Forest preschool Programs foster lifelong healthy habits by teaching nutrition, hydration, and movement through engaging classroom activities, hands-on educator resources, and weekly family involvement, highlighted by their four-month Healthy Me, Healthy Choices program for preschoolers.
M.H. Rollins Child Development Center at Children’s Beach House promotes healthy lifestyles for young children through a curriculum featuring Soccer Shots and R.O.O.T.S. yoga sessions, and organizes wellness events that encourage physical activity, nutritious eating, and overall well-being.
Pequenas Manitas Early Learning Center LLC fosters lifelong healthy habits in young children and their families through weekly interactive workshops focused on nutrition, physical activity, and emotional well-being, with bilingual resources and monthly family days to support diverse communities.
Pooh’s Place fosters healthy lifestyle habits among preschoolers and their families by combining age-appropriate physical activities, engaging nutrition lessons, and interactive family wellness events that encourage balanced eating, active living, and strong home-school connections.
Rivers of Learning Academy helps children and families adopt healthier lifestyles by promoting nutritious eating and regular physical activity through evidence-based strategies. The center offers educational resources, weekly activity sessions, and a community garden to engage families in hands-on learning and strengthen their connection to healthy living.
Shell’s Early Learning Centers in Camden, Harrington, and Dover promote healthy eating and lifestyle habits by teaching children about the food pyramid and nutrition through hands-on gardening, weekly snack preparation with fresh harvests, and engaging families in wellness practices with “Garden Days,” recipe cards, and take-home activities.
Fiscal Year 2025
AHL Healthy Schools Mini-Grant Program
In FY 2025, DPH awarded 4 mini-grants to K-12 schools and 6 mini-grants to early childcare education (ECE) centers to build healthy school environments and encourage healthy lifestyles among Delaware youth.
Provides tricycles and develops an engaging curriculum for students ranging from Pre-K to 22 years old, focusing on physical health, developmental skills, and inclusivity.
Retains a PE/Health teacher, increases physical activity through dance and fitness activities, improves lunch options with healthier food, and restarts an urban garden program.
Introduces students to yoga, purchases yoga supplies and safe cleaning solutions, and covers membership fees for a school-based yoga training platform.
Aims to expand its Family Health Night program, afterschool events designed to tackle public health challenges for students and their families. At these events, various community organizations collaborate to promote children’s health, active lifestyles, nutrition, wellness, and physical activity.
Expands the garden section of the outdoor classroom by adding a greenhouse and larger raised garden beds to promote healthy lifestyles and provide healthy food options.
Empowers children and their families to achieve healthier lifestyles through weekly physical activity sessions, a community garden, and educational resources.
Creates an interactive, educational garden classroom that promotes physical activity, healthy eating, environmental awareness, and hands-on learning.
Raises awareness among families about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and provides actionable ways to achieve these goals through extracurricular activities, healthy eating habits, and physical activity programs.
Establishes a community garden that provides hands-on learning experiences in growing fresh fruits and vegetables, promoting healthier eating habits, physical activity, and environmental stewardship.
Improves above-ground gardens, engages a professional nutrition expert, and introduces a structured exercise program to promote nutrition, sustainability, and healthy eating habits.
The 2025-2026 Healthy Schools Recognition Program submission period is now open!
Recognition Program
AHL Healthy Schools Recognition
To improve health and wellness of school-age students in Delaware, AHL has launched a Healthy Schools Recognition Program, which aims to recognize schools implementing policy, systems, and environmental change strategies to improve student health and wellbeing — with a focus on improved nutrition and increased physical activity.
All schools in Delaware are eligible to submit for recognition. To submit for the 2025-2026 school year, complete the submission form. Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis through March 31, 2026.
This recorded webinar covers eligibility requirements and the submission process. Watch to learn how to get your school recognized!
2025 Winners
Pioneer Award Winners
These Delaware schools have been recognized for their outstanding commitment to building healthy school environments through nutrition, physical activity, and wellness programs.
- Allen Frear Elementary School
- Booker T. Washington Elementary School
- Charter School of Wilmington
- Postlethwait Middle School
- Sanford School
- Serviam Girls Academy
- W.B. Simpson Elementary School
- Woodbridge Elementary School
- Star Hill Elementary School
Assistance or Questions
Interested schools should contact one of the Healthy Schools coaches for further assistance or with any questions.
Resources & Past Webinars
AHL Webinar
April 13, 2021
School Wellness Resources
Explore tools and toolkits from national partners to support health and wellness programming in your school.