Pauline Thomas, principal at Washington Elementary School, has been named the Washington State Public Health Association 2010 School Health Champion. She was recognized for her overall commitment in making fundamental shifts for children to lead healthier lives.

Thomas has been working to improve the health of Washington Elementary School students for the past three years. She has implemented a school health team that adopted the CDC’s Coordinated School Health Program. Thomas also started a wellness committee that focuses on nutrition and physical activity education. The school’s annual walk-a-thon partners with the health department and fundraises for enhanced physical fitness and nutrition educational opportunities. Parents also get involved by dressing up as fresh fruit and vegetable characters.

Thomas has developed a relationship with the Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department and participates as one of three elementary schools that comprise the South King County Action for Healthy Kids Regional Team. The team’s focus is obesity prevention through physical activity and healthy eating.

Neilsen-Homan earns top award

Janet Neilsen-Homan, kitchen manager at Cascade Middle School, has been awarded the Washington State and Northwest Regional Louise Sublette Award of Excellence from the School Nutrition Association. Neilsen-Homan will be competing with six other regional finalists for the national award, which will be presented at the SNA’s National Conference in Dallas this summer. Neilsen-Homan also won the regional award in 2003. Neilsen-Homan’s recognition is in part a reflection of her efforts behind initiating the comprehensive school kitchen recycling program at the school, which includes reducing its waste through composting and purchasing recyclable products.

Elsewhere

The Auburn Riverside High School InFlight Newspaper staff took awards at the Washington State Journalism Write-Off Competition in Edmonds on March 13. Four students placed in the awards category: Sydney Shuman (superior in feature photography); Kim German (honorable mention, copy editing and headline writing); James Kozanitis (honorable mention, editorial writing); Shayla McGinness (honorable mention, review writing). InFlight Newspaper students will compete at the upcoming JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention on April 15-18 in Portland. …

The Auburn School District Board of Directors recognized Arnie Grab, library media specialist at Evergreen Heights Elementary School, for his outstanding service. Grab’s 32 years of teaching include 21 years as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher and 11 years as a librarian for Evergreen Heights.