Healthy Habits Guidelines

Everyone at Stevens Elementary Schools does their part to
make the school environment an inviting and nurturing place for
children to learn and teachers to teacher. The school staff have
worked together to outline healthy habits guidelines for
students. Learn more about them below.
- Students should plan on going outside for recess when
the temperature is above 15 degrees Fahrenheit (including
wind chill), and the playground has been deemed safe.
- Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for
the weather. If your child is not dressed appropriately
(without boots and snowpants), they will have to stay on the
approved paved areas.
- Hats and mittens are strongly encouraged. Please label
everything with your child's first and last name.
For children, exercise means playing and being physically
active. Kids exercise when they have gym class at school, soccer
practice, dance class, etc. They're also exercising when they're
at recess, riding bikes, or playing tag.
Studies show that children who are active will:
- Have stronger muscles and bones.
- Have leaner bodies because exercise helps control body
fat.
- Be less likely to become overweight.
- Have a decreased risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.
- Possibly have lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol
levels.
- Have a better outlook on life.
What is the recommended amount of exercise for school-age
children?
According to the National Association for Sports and Physical
Education (NASPE), school-age children should get 60 minutes of
moderate to vigorous exercise every day.
For all treats brought into the classroom (holidays,
birthdays, etc.) please adhere to the classroom teacher's
guidelines.
- Teachers can, when appropriate, have the option of using
candy or other items for classroom related activities, on a
limited basis, such as M&M math, graphing and sorting.
- For classroom rewards, teachers are encouraged to use
alternatives including stickers, small toys or other items
in place of candy.
- Staff members will make every effort to be positive role
models for the health and wellness standards.
- Teachers will encourage students to wash their hands
before handling food items.
- Classroom teachers will educate the children about
health food choices as part of the BH-BL health curriculum.
Information will also be shared at Back-to-School nights to
encourage parents to make healthy choices for their
children. However, final food choices are at each parent's
discretion.
Animals are effective and valuable teaching aids, but
safeguards are required to reduce the risk for infection, injury
or allergic reactions. Therefore, animals will be permitted on a
limited basis in accordance with the following guidelines:
- Permission must be granted by the principal prior to the
entry of all animals.
- A certificate of veterinary inspection must be presented
for all visiting animals.
- Teachers will provide advanced notification to the
parents of their students when an animal will be present in
the classroom (residing or visiting).
- Animals will not be permitted in areas where children
with identified allergies are present. (Doctor’s
verification must be supplied upon request.)
- Designate specific locations for animal contact.
- Supervise human-animal contact at all times.
- Wash hands after contact with animals, animal products,
or their environment.
- Always handle and house animals humanely.
- Display animals in enclosed cages or under appropriate
restraint, and do not allow animals to roam or fly freely.
- Clean and disinfect (adults only) all areas where
animals have been present. This should be done only by
adults, and before or after school when students are not
present.
- Keep all resident animals clean and free of intestinal
parasites, fleas, ticks, mites and lice.
- Good sleep is one of the most important things kids need
to stay healthy. In fact, studies show that children who
don't sleep enough -- or well enough -- can be inattentive,
restless, irritable, and more likely to injure themselves.
- It is important for children to get a good night's sleep
and feel rested in the morning. Otherwise, it is difficult
for children to get the most out of school.
- How much sleep does your child need? According to
Parenting.com, kids ages 5 and up, generally need 9 to 10
hours of sleep, with some children needing up to 12 hours.