Jump IN and the Indianapolis Colts “Jump Right UP” for Healthy Schools

Thanks to the Indianapolis Colts, Jump IN for Healthy kids works with school districts in central Indiana to integrate school wellness policies that create healthier environments for children. The new two-year program, Jump Right UP, has just launched in four districts:MSD Pike, MSD Warren, IPS,, and MSD Lawrence. And we’re getting noticed for it already.  Read the IndyStar’s Season of Sharing piece that just came out yesterday.  

The Warren school featured in our IndyStar story is utilizing Playworks to help them achieve their physical activity goals.  Sunny Heights Elementary brought Playworks to their school this year to to help improve recess time and support the school’s development of a positive learning environment.  Bailey Smith, a full-time Playworks Coach, designs and facilitates recess along with additional Playworks program components throughout the day and after school. Because one of the goals of Playworks is to keep kids active and engaged, Jump IN for Healthy Kids saw a natural partnership and is working with Playworks to support our physical activity initiatives including increasing recess in Warren Township to 30 minutes a day.  Additionally, thanks to funding from the Pacers Foundation, Jump IN brought in Playworks to train school staff from the remaining Warren Elementary Schools on how to build effective indoor recesses. The photo below shows Warren teachers being trained in Playworks’ method so that they can incorporate it into their school days.  An added component of Playworks’ program is to help kids develop conflict resolution and cooperation skills – skills that they can practice and hone while they’re playing.

IPS has also taken a a bold and innovative step in its wellness work. As part of IPS’s agreement with Jump IN to participate in Jump Right UP, IPS has created a new wellness position dedicated to health and wellness throughout the district. This is a significant step in working with our school district partners on how they can embed best practices into their work. Congratulations to IPS leadership for making this important commitment to wellness.

Keep an eye out for future blogs where we will feature the good work that our two other districts, Pike and Lawrence are accomplishing.  

Thanks to the Indianapolis Colts, Playworks, the Pacers, and our partner school districts, we’re helping change these school environments so that kids have healthier physical activity time and better nutrition options.  Want to know how you can get involved?  Jump IN has many resources to get you started on your school wellness work.  To begin, download our free Healthy Students Guide, visit here to see our school wellness toolkit for parents, or download this sample wellness policy that will get you on your way.