Elliot Primary School and Francis Patton School have picked up awards for their efforts to promote good health.

Both were the main winners at the Healthy School Awards at Camden, with Health Minister Nelson Bascome handing out prizes.

Naming Francis Patton as the recipient of one award, Mr. Bascome said: "The Healthy Schools Recognition Award is being given to a school that has historically promoted health to its students, staff, and families in virtually every area of health recognised today.

"This school realises that health and education are linked and consistently develops and implements innovative health-related activities throughout the year, in which the students and staff readily participate.

"Also evident in this school are the strong ties that it has established with its community, which supports its students to ensure growth in all aspects of life.

"All activities have an overlay of health, with health policies being implemented, foods provided by the school being healthy, vending machine choices being healthy, physical activity being promoted for all children and staff, and an active awareness that the environment must enable students to learn and teachers to function optimally."

Elliot Primary picked up the Healthy Schools Award plaque after consistently promoting health to its students, staff, and families throughout this year.

Mr. Bascome said: "This school understands that there is a reciprocal link between health and education, and that school achievement is dependent on students' maintaining good health.

"More importantly health promotion is a natural part of this remarkable school's culture and philosophy.

"This school's outstanding dedication and innovation have been continuous, as staff seek to keep students challenged and motivated in their quest to improve their health, linking many activities to the health and physical education curricula.

"This year, some teachers have frequently gone above the call of duty to engage students in novel health-related activities, before, during, and after school."

He said Elliot's efforts included ensuring the drinks vending machine provides only healthy choices, monitoring school lunches, and linking the health curriculum to practical activities where possible.

On the importance of healthy schools, the Minister said: "Schools have an awesome challenge — while they primarily focus on academic achievement, they also know that healthy students have a better opportunity to achieve academic success.

"All of you work to make sure our students establish lifelong habits to become viable and healthy members of our society."

Certificates were given out to Bermuda High School, Gilbert Institute, Saltus Grammar School, East End Primary, Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy, Sandys Middle School and Berkeley Institute.