Wellness

schools-wellness-image1A Message from the ConVal Wellness Committee
The ConVal School Board adopted the current Wellness Policy in 2011 in response to the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004.(1) This Act contains a local school Wellness Policy provision, an important tool to address obesity and promote healthy eating and physical activity through changes in school environments.

The Wellness Policy provision requires every school district that participates in the federal school meals program (as most schools do) to enact a Wellness Policy by the start of the 2006-2007 school year. These policies must address:

  • goals for nutrition education
  • goals for physical activity
  • nutrition guidelines for all foods available at school
  • goals for other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness
  • plans for evaluating implementation of the policy

A Wellness Committee was formed in 2008 also as a requirement of the Federal and State Guidelines. The ConVal Wellness Committee includes school nurses, PE and health teachers, coaches, a registered dietician, physicians from MCH pediatrics, the ConVal food service director, parents, administrators and a school board member. Our goal is to provide a school environment that enhances learning and the development of lifelong wellness practices.
Studies have shown that well nourished students perform better in the classroom, have better test scores, participate more and have better attendance than those students who are undernourished. Students who are overweight and sedentary are at a greater risk of diminished academic performance, behavior problems, and chronic disease. (2) & (3)

The Wellness Committee is committed to working with the schools and the community to empower our students to make healthy choices and to incorporate physical activity into their lives.