As of Feb. 13, Garland ISD was ranked in the top five in the Metro School Districts category in the 2023 It’s Time Texas (ITT) Community Challenge.
The challenge, which began in 2011, promotes healthier lifestyles and healthier communities for Texans.
According to the ITT website, Texans are losing loved ones to preventable diseases at a record rate. Diseases including diabetes, obesity, lung and heart disease numbers are rising at alarming rates. Two of three Texas adults and one of three children are overweight or obese. The hope is that the ITT Community Challenge can help turn those statistics around.
Components of the challenge include eating healthier meals, exercising and drinking more water. Each participant logs their daily habits and earns points. ITT tracks the points at different levels depending on how an individual or group is signed up and where in the state they are located. Garland ISD, as well as other school districts, municipalities, organizations and individuals compete while making healthy changes.
Garland statistics as of Feb. 13:
- Total points earned: 221,050
- Total healthy actions reported: 1,962
- Total minutes of physical activity: 14,087
- Total healthy meals eaten: 1,129
- Total ounces of water consumed: 23,718
There are 97 individual Garland participants competing, and 39 of those are competing as part of Garland ISD. Garland is a long-time participant in the challenge which is faculty- and staff-focused. The challenge lasts eight weeks.
Numbers of the statewide challenge:
- Total Active Participants: 15,243
- Total Healthy Actions Reported: 359,313
- Total Minutes of Physical Activity: 6,456,042,674
- Total Healthy Meals Eaten: 174,584
- Total Healthy Meals w/ Vegetables Eaten: 94,669
A few of the top healthy actions reported by Garland participants are walking, meditation, strength workouts, biking, yoga, dancing and running.
Top 10 GISD campuses:
- Austin Academy For Excellence
- Spring Creek ES
- Gilbreath-Reed Career and Technical Center
- Caldwell ES
- Toler ES
- Rowlett HS
- Northlake ES
- Vernon Schrade MS
- Norma Dorsey ES
- Sam Houston MS
About It’s Time Texas: It’s Time Texas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit empowering Texans to lead healthier lives and build healthier communities. We work to bring people, communities, and organizations together to take action that supports health for all, now and for generations to come because we believe where you live shouldn’t determine how long you live.