Local schools already provide healthy foods

The provincial government recently announced it is directing school boards to remove all junk food from vending machines in elementary schools.
The Rainy River District School Board has only one elementary school with a vending machine that is accessible to students, and all elementary schools already have taken steps to provide healthier food and beverage choices for students.
The board’s single elementary school that offers a vending machine to students is stocked with water and fruit-based beverages only.
Individually, the public board’s schools have moved towards improving food and beverage choices for students in various ways, such as breakfast programs that are tied with learning, daily milk programs, improving choices at canteens, and by working in conjunction with the Northwestern Health Unit.
Schools also bring nutrition awareness to parents through newsletters with ideas for packing nutritional school lunches and snacks.
One of the schools has dances that are now pop- and chip-free, and students can be found selling cheese as a fundraiser rather than chocolates.
Ninety percent of the board’s elementary schools now follow a “Balanced Day” schedule for students, which features three educational blocks divided by two nutrition breaks totalling in 90 minutes.
According to Brain Compatible Learning Research, optimum learning conditions result when nutritional needs are fulfilled and a balanced day is created.
The schedule has been well-received by students, staff, and parents.
The RRDSB is identifying a committee to develop a policy regarding nutrition, and will continue to develop healthier schools though healthier food and beverage choices for students.
In other news, the RRDSB has appointed Crystal Hershey to the position of vice-principal at North Star Community School in Atikokan.
Hershey is a junior kindergarten teacher and “Reading Recovery” teacher at the school, and assumes the role of vice-principal in addition to her current responsibilities.