QUEEN
OF
SEPTEMBER,
2007
PHILOSOPHY
QPGS believes in a coordinated and comprehensive approach to staff and
student wellness that is sensitive to individual and community needs. To that end, QPGS believes that children of
all ages who begin each day as healthy individuals….
- learn more.
- learn better.
- are more likely
to complete their formal education.
QPGS
also believes that
healthy staff can….
- More
effectively perform their assigned duties.
- Model
appropriate wellness behaviors for students.
Finally, the combination of healthy students, healthy staff and a
healthy school will improve…
- Educational outcomes—A steady gain in knowledge
and skills and higher performance on standardized assessments;
- Educational behaviors---Reduced Absenteeism,
fewer behavior problems and an active involvement in the learning process;
and,
- Student Attitudes---Positive interest in
learning, more alert students with increased academic aspirations and
greater involvement in the school community.
HEALTHY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
To learn and teach effectively, all students and staff must work in a
school environment in which they feel comfortable, safe and supported, with a
minimum of risks and distractions and a maximum of learning potential.
QPGS
will…
- Ensure that our school building and its surrounding grounds will
meet all current health and safety standards and be kept clean, safe and
in good repair.
- All drinking fountains will be kept clean and sanitary throughout
the day.
- Maintain an environment that is free of tobacco, alcohol and other
prohibited substances.
- Establish a set of recess rules and a code of conduct that ensures
physical and emotional safety.
- Encourage an environment free from harassment, threats and violence.
- Create an environment where all students and adults are respected,
values of good character are encouraged, with high expectations for
personal behavior and accomplishments.
HEALTH SERVICES
QPGS administration, teachers, nurses, staff and parents will work
together to develop an ongoing approach to helping students build
health-related knowledge and skills. An effective health care delivery system
not only promotes academic achievement but also improves the mental and
physical health of all.
The primary goal of health services is to…
- Maximize the use of current expertise within the community by
providing informative assemblies and programs about current health issues.
- Use outside agencies and resources to promote health and wellness
for students, families, staff and community by providing a resource
network of available programs in the area.
- Use coordinated and comprehensive programs to ensure the
accessibility of health services to all.
NUTRITION/FOOD
SERVICES
Academic performance and quality of life are affected by the
availability of food choices within our school. Healthy foods support student
physical growth, brain development, resistance to disease, emotional stability
and ability to learn.
QPGS
will work to insure
that all food choices served or sold in our school are consistent with current
nutritional standards.
To accomplish this goal, QPGS will….
- Provide a clean, safe and enjoyable meal environment for students.
- Provide enough space within serving areas to ensure that all
students have access to school meals with minimum wait time.
- Provide enough time for students to enjoy a positive eating
experience with friends.
- Schedule lunchtime as near as possible to the middle of the day.
- Assure that students receive consistent nutritional messages
throughout the school and cafeteria and in their classrooms.
- Offer healthy food choices through our hot lunch food program, a
la carte food choices,
vending machine, fundraising
and school celebrations.
- Make every effort to accommodate special dietary needs.
COUNSELING/PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES
In addition to placing emphasis on the importance of physical health
and nutrition, QPGS is committed to the promotion of the social and emotional
well-being of all students and staff members. This effort will include an awareness
of and sensitivity to community events that would impact that emotional
well-being.
In order to optimize conditions for teaching and learning, QPGS will work to….
·
Create a
supportive environment that includes access to counseling services, either
through our school counselor or through appropriate referrals to community
agencies.
·
Address a
variety of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety and behavioral
issues.
·
Emphasize
the important connection between mental well-being and educational success.
·
Provide
assemblies and programs that will address both physical and mental health
issues.
HEALTH/NUTRITION
and PHYSICAL EDUCATION
QPGS
strives to educate our
students to make healthy decisions and lead a healthy lifestyle. This is a
broad and on-going task that is best accomplished through the coordination of
many disciplines at all grade levels. Classroom teachers will be encouraged to
incorporate, apply, encourage and model health-related knowledge and skills at
all grade levels.
QPGS
will….
- Follow the Science/Health curriculum of RCAN
- Provide teacher resources to support the presentation of
Science/Health curriculum material.
- Provide teacher workshops that will support the presentation of
Science/Health curriculum.
- Provide opportunities for every student to develop the knowledge,
skills and attitudes necessary for specific physical activities
- Teach students the short and long-term benefits of a physically
active and healthy lifestyle.
- Ensure students regular participation in physical activity
throughout the school day with daily recess periods.
- Provide a structured physical education period weekly.
- Provide fundraising and extracurricular activities that will
provide good physical education.
- Promote CYO sports program with a variety of healthy athletics and sporting
events.
STAFF
WELLNESS
QPGS is fully aware that healthy staff members can more effectively perform
their duties and serve as powerful role models for healthy living. QPGS will strive to ensure that all staff have access to opportunities that enhance their health.
To support a healthy workforce, QPGS will…
·
maintain an
environment that is free of tobacco, alcohol and prohibited substances.
·
Provide
an accessible, productive and safe work environment free from physical dangers
and emotional threats, that is consistent with
applicable occupational and health laws, policies and rules.
·
Provide
opportunities to learn about good health practice that will improve lifestyle as well as
longevity for all staff members.
PARENT and COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
One of the biggest benefits of a coordinated approach to school health
can be a closer working relationship among parents and teachers in order to
effectively promote wellness.
QPGS
will….
- Invite guest speakers on health-related topics.
- Encourage parent cooperation to provide healthy snacks and treats
for their children.
- Provide information and suggestions on a regular basis about
childhood health problems and solutions.
- Provide school activities that will support healthy lifestyles.
(2007-08)
MENTAL/
EMOTIONAL PHYSICAL
HEALTH HEALTH
NUTRITION
SEPT INTRO
TO WELLNESS/DIETARY
GUIDELINES
OCT SELF-CONCEPT MUSCLES CARBS
& BONES
NOV
GOOD CHARACTER HEART & PROTEINS
LUNGS
DEC MAKING RESPONSIBLE DIGESTION FATS
DECISIONS
JAN RESOLVING CONFLICT 5 SENSES VITAMINS
FEB MANAGING STRESS TEETH MINERALS
MAR MAKING HEALTHY NERVOUS SYS. WATER
CHOICES
APR SAFETY EMERGENCIES FAST FOOD
MAY GOOD GROOMING DISEASES
GOOD CONSUMERS
JUNE ********* WRAP-UP*********
In 2007-08 QPGS
proudly launches an aggressive Team Wellness school atmosphere
by initiating the following school
policies/events:
WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS
Each Wednesday begins with Nutrition News
on PA system after morning prayers.
This special information will serve as the
focus of activities throughout the day.
NU-WAY LUNCHES/SNACKS
Nu-Way Lunches will more closely follow
for lunch, snack and beverage choices.
Soda Machine has been replaced with
Water/Snapple/100% Juice selections. ($1.25)
DAILY SNACKS/LUNCHES
Students are encouraged to bring healthy
snacks and lunches each day.
(Ex:
fruits, raw vegetables with dip, plain cereal, salad,etc.)
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
Students may bring only healthy treats to
share with friends.
SUGARY CUPCAKES and MUNCHKINS
are NOT ALLOWED and will be returned in
full.
JUMP-A-THON
More information will follow.
DANCE-A-THON
More information will follow.
10,000 STEPS TO WELLNESS
More information will follow.
WELLNESS ASSEMBLIES
Various assemblies are being planned to
address nutrition as well as stress management techniques for children.
More information will follow.
PARENTS –ARE--PARTNERS
A monthly information center
on a school website in order to publish the most current information for
parents.