Vida Charter School

Vida Charter School implements a unique program called Healthy Lifestyles. It incorporates nutrition, health, character education, and physical activity into daily physical education and throughout the curriculum.

Children's decision- making skills begin when they are very young. They make decisions on a daily basis - determining what to eat, what to play, how to deal with disputes, and many other issues. The Healthy Lifestyles curriculum is designed to teach students the skills they need to make decisions that positively impact themselves, their families, and their communities and give them the opportunity to practice them in the school setting. With a strong foundation in decision-making, children will have needed tools to make decisions to make themselves and the community healthier.

The Healthy Lifestyles curriculum was designed and reviewed by a team that included educators, a nutritionist, a dietician, and a psychiatrist. It seeks not only to present information on how to lead a healthy lifestyle, but to allow students to practice skills that they will use the span of their lives.

In addition to the unique curriculum, Vida Charter School implements the following practices to encourage healthy decision-making:

• Nutritious lunch choices
• Daily Yoga practice with YogaKids
• Daily Physical Education class that includes instruction on making peaceful decisions
• Movement and social interactions integrated in the academic lessons
• Service Learning activities
• Multicultural materials

 

Poor nutrition and lack of physical activity are not only root causes of being overweight, they are also factors associated with lower academic achievement.  Studies demonstrate that when children's basic nutritional and fitness needs are met, they attain higher achievement levels.  Vida Charter School takes a critical role in helping students learn and practice healthy eating habits and in providing the knowledge, motivation, and skills children need for lifelong physical activity.

---

Other schools are doing it. We can do it, too!

 

What’s Wrong with School Lunch?

Chicago Reader

By Nicholas Day

Mothers start a food fight
USA Today
by Nancy Hellmich

Exercise Builds Strong Brains, Too

USA Today

Nanci Hellmich