PSJA ISD Hosts It’s Time Texas Community Challenge Kick-off Celebration

SAN JUAN – In celebration of the annual It’s Time Texas Community Challenge, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD) in collaboration with the cities of Pharr, San Juan, and Alamo hosted its annual community kickoff event at the Mayfield Park on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024.

As part of the PSJA Family Health & Wellness initiative, PSJA ISD is once again taking on the annual It’s Time Texas Community Challenge sponsored by H-E-B. The fun 8-week competition unites and mobilizes schools, businesses, organizations, community members, and community leaders toward the common goal of transforming their community’s health. This year the Challenge is taking place from Jan. 8, 2024, through March 3, 2024. 

PSJA ISD has engaged in the statewide competition for several years now, earning 1st place in the large school district category consecutively in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. 

The kick-off event featured special remarks from district and community leaders, health vendors, door prizes for attendees, and a community walk to celebrate the beginning of the 2024 It’s Time Texas Community Challenge. 

For Juanita Sanchez, Audie Murphy Middle School Dance Teacher, and active participant in the It’s Time Texas Community Challenge, taking on this year's challenge holds a deeper meaning than just promoting a healthy lifestyle.

“As an educator, it makes me proud to be able to share this challenge with my students,” said Sanchez. “I love being able to develop student leaders within our school to take on these challenges, motivate their peers, and learn the numerous benefits they can reap by making health-conscious decisions.” 

In addition to the It’s Time Texas Community Challenge, PSJA ISD hosts a PSJA Healthy School Challenge where all PSJA ISD campuses are encouraged to log their healthy habits and engage in friendly competition. For four consecutive years, Audie Murphy Middle has won 1^st Place in the middle school division collecting 588,600 points in the spring of 2023.

According to It’s Time Texas Program Director Selene Guerrero, the whole purpose of the community challenge is to get people motivated and inspired.

“I always love to see how motivated everyone is here at PSJA ISD,” said Guerrero. “Everyone within the tri-city community rallies together to earn that top prize, for five consecutive years PSJA has earned that top spot state-wide in their category. We hope that this is the steppingstone that creates those healthy habits where people can embrace them as part of their everyday lives.” 

To register for the challenge and learn more about PSJA ISD’s Health and Wellness Initiatives, visit www.psjaisd.us/challenge

###