LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Tioga Elementary School upon the occa-
sion of its designation as recipient of the Gold of Distinction Award
from the United States Department of Agriculture

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those institutions of commitment and high achievement whose
purpose and endeavors prove a dedication to the pursuit of excellence in
the education and wellness of the youth of this noble Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Tioga Elementary School upon the occasion of its designation as recipi-
ent of the Gold of Distinction Award from the United States Department
of Agriculture as part of its Healthier US School Challenge; and
WHEREAS, A United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) official
recognized the school at an award ceremony on Monday, March 26, 2012, at
the Tioga Middle School in Tioga Center, New York; and
WHEREAS, Tioga Elementary School was the first school in New York
State to receive a Gold of Distinction Award from the USDA; and
WHEREAS, The Challenge is a key component of First Lady Michelle
Obama's "Let's Move!" initiative to end childhood obesity within a
generation; and
WHEREAS, Schools participating in the Challenge voluntarily adopt USDA
standards for food they serve at their schools, agree to provide nutri-
tion education and provide opportunities for physical activity; and
WHEREAS, The schools selected for this most auspicious honor join the
ranks of an elite group recognized for health, nutrition and fitness
excellence; only about two percent of 101,000 schools in the nation have
achieved Healthier US status at the Bronze, Silver, Gold or Gold of
Distinction levels; and
WHEREAS, The Healthier US School Challenge sets goals for nutrition
and physical activity for schools; goals for nutrition include daily
whole grain foods, increased fresh fruits and vegetables, increased use
of nutrient dense foods and decreased use of sugar and sodium; and
WHEREAS, With the help of a local program, Rock on Cafe, which links
schools within the Broome-Tioga BOCES area to pool their resources and
work together, Tioga Elementary School was able to bring about the need-
ed changes; Julie Tucker, RD helped the schools document what they were
doing so that they could apply for the Healthier US School Challenge
awards; and
WHEREAS, Meeting these goals of the Healthier US School Challenge
required teamwork within the Tioga Elementary School and throughout the
district; for two years, the district was fortunate to receive a Fresh
Fruit and Vegetable grant that allowed all PreKindergarten-4th grade
students to receive a free fresh fruit or vegetable snack every day; and
WHEREAS, The other aspect of the Healthier US School Challenge was
Physical Education; with the help from a grant from the Rural Health
Network of South Central New York, Tioga Elementary School teachers
completed a six session series where they learned about the health bene-
fits of physical activity, the impact on learning and some interesting
ways to include more activity in their classrooms; and
WHEREAS, The Gold of Distinction Award stands as a resolute testimony
to Tioga Elementary School's standards of excellence, its uncompromising
values, unparalleled dedication, and the special teamwork of its family
of students, parents, teachers and administrators, who share common
goals and uncommon expectations; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Tioga Elementary School upon the occasion of its designation as

recipient of the Gold of Distinction Award from the United States
Department of Agriculture, noting the significance of its accomplishment
and recognizing the role such effective schools play in shaping the
quality of life in their community, State and Nation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Tioga Elementary School.