Lexington One is committed to a healthy school environment that offers children nutritious food choices, provides and promotes sequential and interdisciplinary nutrition education, and connects meaningful physical activity to students' lives outside of physical education. The healthy, physically active child is more likely to be academically successful. The school environment will therefore be safe, comfortable, pleasing, and allow ample time and space for instruction, for eating meals and for physical activity.

The goal of this policy is to provide an environment that promotes health and wellness in the areas of nutrition and physical activity by doing the following contingent upon state funding.

• Through the district "nutrition education" programs, the students will gain an understanding of proper nutrition and nutrition practices.
• Through the district "physical activity" programs, the students will experience meaningful physical education and physical activity environments throughout the school day.
• Through other district "school-based activities", the students will be encouraged to engage in physical activity and healthy lifestyle formation.
• Through the district's "nutrition guidelines for food and beverages available during the school day," the students will be provided healthy, nutritional food selections throughout the school environment.

Lexington One schools are encouraged to take a positive approach to wellness, nutrition, and physical activity that will impact students' health and the school environment. Our schools will follow state standards for physical education in our instruction. In all aspects of district wellness, the school staff will be encouraged to model good nutrition and physical activity behaviors.

Nutrition education will be integrated into health education and into other areas of the curriculum. The staff responsible for nutrition education will provide basic knowledge of nutrition combined with skill practice activities and will use instructional techniques and strategies designed to promote healthy eating habits.

• Nutrition education will be incorporated during classroom instruction, snack times, and in the school dining area.
• The school cafeteria will serve as a "learning laboratory" to allow students to apply critical thinking skills taught in the classroom in regards to the making of nutritional choices.
• The school staff will not use foods of minimal nutritional value as a reward or punishment for students.
• Students will be encouraged to start each day with a healthy breakfast.
• Nutrition education will involve sharing information with families and the broader community to positively impact students and the health of the community.

After-school programs will encourage physical activity and healthy habit information. District wellness policy goals will be considered in planning all school-based activities; e.g. school events, field trips, dances and assemblies. Each school will organize wellness committees composed of parents/legal guardians, teachers, administrators, and students to plan, implement, and improve nutrition and physical activity in the school environment. 

If you have any questions or comments or would like to be involved with the district wellness committee in Lexington County School District One, please contact: 

Kathy Moss
Food Service and Nutrition 
803.821.1169
kmoss@lexington1.net