Who we are:
We are a group of concerned parents and professionals committed to improving the overall health and well-being of school aged children of all income levels who are enrolled in the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Montgomery County, Virginia. Based on the current research, we believe that adequate and balanced nutrition and daily physical activity are essential to help children:
- Stay healthy now and into the future
- Reach their full academic potential
Our Vision:
Our vision is to increase opportunities for nutrition education, physical activity and the consumption of nutritious foods and beverages for all school-aged children enrolled in MCPS. Improving the school wellness environment includes:
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Education of administration, teachers, families, foodservice staff, and children on the benefit of improved nutritional quality and physical activity.
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Improved access to healthy food and beverage choices available in our schools.
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Increasing the number of healthy competitive foods in vending machines, school stores, and through classroom and fundraising activities.
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Create a wellness climate for all students, teachers, staff and families at schools in the MCPS system.
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Foster a supportive wellness climate for families with children enrolled in MCPS, regardless of socioeconomic status.
Our Plan:
The federal mandate as outlined in the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 calls for the creation of a Local School Wellness committee representing school administrators, school staff (including, but not limited to school foods), parents, children, and the public. Now that Montgomery County has established the Wellness Policy, the attention now turns to implementation in the schools. In assisting the MCPS, we can:
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Provide the MCPS administration, staff and the public with data, resources, support and opportunities for continuing education in the arena of school wellness.
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Partner with Action for Healthy Kids, Virginia Tech and Radford University, private businesses to glean resources and seek funding to support the needs of the implementation of the Wellness Policy.