VRHS Wellness Program

Promoting a positive and healthy culture.

During the course of this year, the VRHS Wellness team has been focused on promoting inclusivity and respect for diversity in all aspects of school life, from classroom interaction to extracurricular activities.  A display case located in the front foyer featuring a theme each month focused on the diversity of culture represented in our school’s population.  Each day, a fact based on the monthly theme is shared during announcements. Vista Ridge offers many types of clubs.  Our other focus has been to promote staff wellness by opening the weight room for staff, organizing a Soup potluck during State testing week, and having healthy snacks and teas available on Fridays during staff coffee morning.

 As a school, we participate in the following activities:

• Free breakfast and lunch
• Drive Safe expo
• Cocoa & Cram during Finals week
• Blood Drive sponsored by our HOSA students
• Senior Retreat
• Art Show
• Theater productions

District 49's wellness policy and supporting guidelines focus on improving the health of students. Anyone interested in serving on the districtwide wellness advisory council should email wellness@d49.org for additional information.

A sample of the Curriculum Food Request Form is available here. 

Nutrition for classroom parties, celebrations, rewards & fundraisers:

• All food items must be store-bought with the nutrition information showing that the product is 100 calories or less, 0 grams of trans fat.
• No candy or sodas are allowed.
• Birthday celebrations with treats must follow the  Wellness Policy Guidelines.
• Fresh fruits and vegetables are excluded from calorie and sugar limits.
• Food prepared in a private home may not be served at school to students because knowledge of ingredients, sanitation, preparation, and temperature of food in storage or transit is not available, nor can quality and sanitation standards be controlled.
  
• Fundraiser guidelines may also be found in the Wellness Policy Guidelines.
  

Our commitment to physical activity:

• Physical education is provided in elementary, middle, and high school.
• Strenuous physical activity is not used (e.g. running laps, pushups) as punishment.
• Generally, students should not be required to “sit out” any part of recess as punishment unless there is a safety concern.
• Elementary school students will have a minimum of 30-minutes daily of physical activity. Recess for 1⁄2 day Kindergarten will be determined at those individual buildings. 
  • Physical activity can include recess, physical education classes, fitness breaks, active classroom activities, exercise programs, or active field trips.