AG wellness program under way
As local school districts continue to develop policies on student wellness, the Albert Gallatin Area School District’s wellness council has developed priorities for each grade level that teachers should discuss with students. Dr. Denise Martin, district administrative assistant for federal funds, said parents have been given a school wellness guide that offers parents tips for healthy eating and physical activity for themselves and their children.
The guide also lists what the district has committed to do to improve student health, and offers ways for parents to support the district’s efforts.
“Our council and committees have been meeting and we’ve been generating ideas that we’d like to implement,” Martin said.
Kindergarten students will focus on all-the-time foods as opposed to sometime foods, while first- and second-grade students will talk about eating five fruits or vegetables every day. Third-grade students will learn the importance of physical activity, while fourth- and fifth-graders will focus on the concept of “calories in/calories out” to understand energy balance.
According to information from the district, teachers at the middle schools and high school will build upon the concepts introduced at the elementary level, and can include meal planning, body image, risk of disease, and the consequences of living an unhealthy lifestyle.
She noted that small changes are already taking place, with the addition of fresh fruit and yogurt in school cafeterias. Parents have also been asked to send healthier snacks with their children, Martin said.
“We can’t get enough information to parents about eating healthy,” she said. “This whole thing is a major undertaking, and it’s going to require changes from everyone.”
Kelly Loomis, school health coordinator with Steps to a Healthier PA-Fayette County, said that one staff member from each school is a committee member and will serve as the contact person for their building.
“These people took the time to be trained, and they come from all areas of the district, not just classroom teachers,” she said.
Loomis noted that school districts will have to develop a policy that includes healthy fund-raising, healthy options in vending machines and healthy alternatives for school parties.
She said it’s important that schools start with kindergarten students, so that healthy habits are already in place by the time those same students enter middle school and high school.
During Health Awareness Week from Oct. 17-22, a number of activities are planned for different grades.
Students in kindergarten through fifth grade will participate in a placemat decorating contest, while middle school students will design an ad or develop a slogan to promote healthy lifestyles and high school students will design a magnet with a healthy eating or physical activity theme.
All school districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program are required to have a local school wellness policy in place by July 2006.
Judy Psenicska, administrative assistant for curriculum and instruction, said the district has used its participation in the First Tee National School Program, which provides modified golf equipment to school districts, to implement a character education component at the elementary level
“This won’t just be schoolwide, it will be districtwide,” she said. “We’ve mapped it and we plan to use character education all year long.”
Each month, a core value will be introduced at the elementary schools. September’s value was responsibility, while courtesy is the value for October. Other values to be introduced this year are respect, integrity, perseverance, honesty, confidence, judgment and sportsmanship.
The First Tee program was brought to Albert Gallatin and other local districts with funds from the PGA Tour and the 84 Lumber Classic golf tournament.