Schools

School Board to Update District Health and Wellness Policy

West Orange Board of Education approved the update on first reading following Health and Wellness Committee suggestions.

At Monday night's Board of Education meeting, the school board approved an updated West Orange Health and Wellness policy based on suggestions from the members of the West Orange Health and Wellness Committee to meet and exceed state regulations. 

“The West Orange Board of Education Health and Wellness Policy looks to meet and exceed the State benchmarks,”  board member and West Orange Health and Wellness Committee member Laura Lab said. “As a district and as a community we are working daily to ensure the best physical and emotional health of our children.”

The school district's Health and Wellness Committee met last week and presented their ideas for district-wide programs that will enhance the health and well being of West Orange school children and their families based on nutrition, physical health and physical activity.

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Programs include revised school menus created by Sodexo, the district’s food service provider, utilizing low fat food options, whole grains and reducing sugar in their recipes, as well as offering salad and fresh fruit at all schools.

The parents of the Mt. Pleasant Elementary School PTA responded favorably to the new proposals with questions and suggestions.

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“My daughter told me she likes the fresh salads offered at school better than the lunches that I make her,”  Sherley Jean-Baptiste said. “I would like to see the children have more time to play outside afterschool to burn off some of that energy and calories.”

The West Orange Board of Education Health and Wellness Committee is a group of committed community volunteers with a mission to empower students and families in West Orange to live a healthy lifestyle.

The Health and Wellness Committee has also created a web page on the district website to share activities, recipes, and the latest health and wellness news. If members of the community has comments or questions, they can email the link on the page.


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