Wellness

Wellness Policy

Syracuse City School District views wellness as an active process to achieve lifelong social, mental, and physical health. To help our students reach this state of wellness, we have developed a tailored wellness plan as well as implemented programming that support and help our students achieve the highest levels of success.  The plan describes specific goals and objectives for nutrition standards of all foods and beverages available on the school campus, food & beverage marketing in schools, nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, physical education and many other school based activities that promote overall student wellness.

Overview of Wellness:

The Syracuse City School District’s mission is to build, support, and sustain school communities that provide all students with a high-quality education that prepares them to graduate as responsible, active citizens ready for success in college and careers and prepared to compete in a global economy.  Research shows how good nutrition, physical activity, and social interaction are strongly correlated with positive student success in and outside of the classroom. To achieve maximum student wellness, the Syracuse City School District participates in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program as well as partners with the American Heart Association and National Dairy Council school wellness programs. These collaborative programs incorporate wellness at the individual level as well as into the surrounding community.

Student Wellness and Health Promotion:

Nutrition education and promotion throughout school and in the community has the potential to positively influence life long healthy eating behaviors. For this reason, SCSD includes both marketing of nutritious foods throughout schools, as well as, ongoing nutrition education throughout educational disciplines. For continued nutrition education and exposure many of our schools also participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which is available to students in  grades Pre-K through 6th. The students are offered a variety of produce samples throughout the week, paired with nutrition education in the classroom. This allows students to experience new and exciting produce, increasing their weekly consumption of fruits and vegetables and expanding their knowledge of foods consumed.  

Our District continues to develop and enhance relationships with community partners in support of our wellness policy to benefit our children and their families. Within the District we have developed school wellness committees that ensure the implementation and maintenance of our wellness policy.  We empower parents/guardians and care givers, as well as the community at large, to become an active members of established school wellness committees throughout the District.  These committees work on wellness policy initiatives encouraging health and academic success of our students.  Strategies that schools use to encourage wellness include; fitness classes, walking clubs, stress management and more. Those interested are encouraged to reach out to school building administration to work with school wellness champions, who organize wellness activities and develop plans that support a healthier school environment as outlined in the current SCSD Wellness Policy.