Q & A’s regarding MISD’s Coordinated School Health Program

CATCH Website
(Coordinated Approach To Child Health)

What is CATCH and why are we implementing this program?

Realizing the problem of rising obesity rates among children prompted the 77th Legislature to pass Senate Bill 19 in May of 2001. The bill addresses children’s health by acknowledging a change within existing school environment for daily physical activity in public schools and a coordinated school health approach aimed at reducing the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and Type 2 Diabetes in elementary school students. Under this law, each elementary school in Texas must participate in training and implement a coordinated school health program approved by TEA. The CATCH program was approved by TEA in October of 2002.

What is Coordinated School Health?

Coordinated School Health is a process that brings a school community together to teach children to be healthy for a lifetime. Effective coordinated school programs reinforce positive healthy behaviors throughout the day and make clear that good health and
learning go hand in hand.

What are the four components of CATCH?

CATCH builds an alliance of children, parents, teachers, and school staff to teach skills and behaviors associated with maintaining healthy lifestyles. CATCH coordinates four component areas:

• Physical Education - CATCH P.E. provides standard based physical education lessons to teach lifelong movement skills which blend both fun and fitness
• School Nutrition - CATCH Eat Smart guides school cafeteria toward promoting a nutrition rich environment
• Classroom - Go for Health, a cartoon and peer-based curriculum, teaches healthy eating, daily physical activity and tobacco avoidance-habits that prevent chronic disease.
• Family - At home, the health messages children learn in school are reinforced with interactive and enjoyable Home Team activities. The school community is brought together through CATCH Family Fun Nights or other events encouraging a healthy family lifestyle.

Who receives the CATCH training on our campuses?

At all elementary campuses, the P.E. teacher, nurse, a cafeteria representative, a classroom teacher representative, and possibly others, are trained and help form the Campus Coordinated School Health Committee.