
PWCS
reigns
number
one
in
the
state
as
the
top
school
division
for
participation
and
promotion
of
heart
health
with
the
American
Heart
Association
(AHA).
Prior
to
the
school
closure
in
March,
49
of
our
schools
were
able
to
host
either
a
"Kids
Heart
Challenge"
or
an
"American
Heart
Challenge"
program
for
the
AHA.
Rosa
Parks,
Marshall,
and
T.
Clay
Wood
Elementary
Schools
ranked
as
the
top
three
AHA-supporting
PWCS
schools
for
the
2019-20
school
year.
Heart
defects
are
the
number
one
birth
defect,
affecting
approximately
one-in-100
babies.
And
heart
disease
is
still
the
number
one
cause
of
death.
Through
education
and
research,
the
AHA
and
their
HEARTnership
with
PWCS
are
teaching
children
early
about
the
right
habits
for
living
longer,
healthier
lives
and
teaching
them
how
to
bring
those
lessons
home
and
teach
others.
To
date,
3,564
PWCS
students
have
signed
up
to
take
the
"Healthy
Challenge.
Staff
members
are
also
making
pledges
to
be
more
heart-healthy,
including
Superintendent
of
Schools
Dr.
Steve
Walts,
who
has
pledged
to
be
kind
to
his
heart
and
others.
"The
mission
of
AHA
is
to
be
a
relentless
force
for
a
world
of
longer,
healthier
lives.
A
mission
that
has
never
been
more
vital
and
relevant
than
now,
as
we
all
are
starting
to
focus
more
on
our
health,"
shared
Marjorie
ChurchBourne,
American
Heart
Association
youth
market
director.
"PWCS
has
been
an
amazing
HEARTner
with
AHA,
year
after
year
-
together
we
are
saving
and
improving
lives."