Wellness

Active kids are better students and what kids eat affects how they learn. But did you know that kids today are expected to live FIVE YEARS LESS than their parents because of unhealthy lifestyles?

That’s why Stillwater schools is working with the community to strengthen the minds and bodies of kids. Committing to help students become smarter, happier, and live longer lives.

Wellness Policy

The Wellness Policy focuses on doing what is best for kids. It's all about:

Getting kids moving during the day
Providing nutritious meals, snacks and concessions
Creating safer environments for kids with severe food allergies, medical conditions or other dietary restrictions
Making it easier to be active and healthy beyond the school day
Helping to create smarter, happier kids and healthier communities

What's In

Celebrating birthdays in fun and memorable ways that make kids feel valued and loved
Making special events in the classroom safe and enjoyable for all with creative celebrations that don’t include food
Rewarding students for academic performance or good behavior with special privileges or activities
Working with Nutrition Services to provide healthy and safe options for food-based learning experiences in the classroom
Providing more nutritious options - like yogurt parfaits, fruits and veggies, juices - at concession stands
Promoting healthier lifestyles while fundraising - with things like Fun Walk/Runs or dances

What's Out

Celebrating with cupcakes, candy and excess sugar that makes it harder for kids to concentrate and learn
Dealing with food allergies, dietary requirements and medical conditions that prevent some kids from participating
Handing out candy and sugary treats that make it harder for kids to focus in class
Bringing food from home for classroom projects that may contain allergens or food-borne illnesses
Offering only sugary drinks, candy and cookies at sporting events and other activities
Selling candy bars, doughnuts, cookie dough and other unhealthy foods to raise money

Classroom Celebrations & Birthdays

Birthdays

Birthdays are an important opportunity to recognize and celebrate students. It’s also an opportunity to help them develop healthy lifestyles that ensure they have many more happy birthdays!

Stillwater schools wants students to feel valued and loved on their special day, and can be done in many fun and memorable ways that do not involve sugary treats. Teachers at each school are working to determine how best to celebrate in their classroom. Here are a few creative suggestions:

Make a crown, badge or sign for the birthday child.
Turn on some music and dance!
Let the child be the teacher’s assistant for the day.
Provide special time with a principal, parent or other adult, such as eating lunch together.
Have the child bring in something for show and tell.
Let the child pick an active game for gym class or recess.
Let the child choose a book and read it aloud to the class.Have the class work out to a fun exercise video.
Play Simon Says or other favorite game.

Classroom Celebrations

Food is an important way for many cultures to celebrate special events, but did you know the typical classroom party includes as many as 500 extra calories? A few ideas of ways to celebrate without food includes:

Halloween

Instead of candy hand out stickers, tattoos, plastic spiders and other small toys.
Have a parade or costume contest.
Do the Monster Mash or provide additional play time throughout the day.
Decorate pumpkins.

Thanksgiving

Do a class service project (collect food for Valley Outreach).
Create a garland of gratitude using paper leaves with handwritten notes.
Make clay turkey candle holders.

Winter

Decorate the classroom with snowflakes and snowmen.
Make snow globes out of baby food jars.
Go sledding or ice skating.

Valentine’s Day

Create a Valentine card holder.
Have students write positive comments about classmates and pass them out.
Make greeting cards to give to nursing home residents.

End of School

Field day
School assembly
Class field trip