Читать книгу Keeping the Whole Child Healthy and Safe - Marge Scherer - Страница 16

Schools can take a number of steps to promote student health.

Form a school health advisory council. Principals, superintendents, and board members do not have to change schools on their own. Instead, they need to engage a group of volunteers—including parents, students, medical professionals, business professionals, school administrators, youth group leaders, and law enforcement officials—to help conceive and implement nutrition education and physical activity programs that make sense for the local school community.

Develop a comprehensive wellness policy. With the 2004 passage of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act, all schools that participate in federal school meal programs will need to develop a local wellness policy. This road map needs to include guidelines for all foods and beverages sold in school as well as guidelines for teaching students how to make good decisions about what they eat. The policy must include goals for increasing students' physical activity and school strategies for promoting student wellness. Policies should include recommendations for staff training on developing nutrition education curriculums and for new approaches in physical education. In addition, policies should address program implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

Integrate physical activity and nutrition education into the regular school day. Teachers can start classes with fun calisthenics or dancing and can incorporate nutrition information and physical activity into reading, writing, math, science, and other subjects.

Incorporate nutrition education, healthy snacks, and physical activity into after-school programs. Students who stay after school can do more than finish homework, play board games, and watch television. Time should be set aside for physical activities that engage students in fun and innovative ways. In addition, after-school programs should provide access to healthful snacks and hands-on opportunities to learn about food and nutrition. Turnkey programs, including one sponsored by Action for Healthy Kids and the National Football League, can assist schools with implementation.

Encourage staff to model healthy lifestyles. A wellness program for faculty and staff can enhance school effectiveness by strengthening morale, reducing absenteeism, and cutting insurance costs. By exercising regularly and eating healthful foods, staff can also set a powerful example for students.

By taking these fundamental steps, schools can create healthy environments and, at the same time, promote student achievement.