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Physical activity during the school day contributes to better health and academic success.

A physically active student will see improvement in cognitive skills, concentration, and attention — and educators will see improvement in the classroom. This is your opportunity to help increase their activity level and to also be aware of other activities that might have a negative impact on their safety, mental health, and ability to learn.

Get the details on the value of school-time physical activity:

Wellness Committee

Tips for starting a wellness committee at your school:

It takes more than one person to help a student population. So reach out to parents, school health officials, and board members, as well as the public, to join you in collectively assessing your school’s current programs and policies. Together, your committee can develop smarter ways to improve the health and academic success of students. Just follow these simple steps.

Build your committee.
  • Have regular meetings.
  • Follow an agenda.
Revise your policy.
  • Set the foundation for creating a healthy environment — this Summary of the Final Rule of regulations can guide content development for your written policy.
  • Limit food-and-beverage marketing in schools. ChangeLab Solutions has created a model wellness policy to help guide revising your policy.
Review your policy.
  • Review your policy regularly.
  • Communicate your progress with your district and school community to ensure everyone is on track to meet your wellness goals.
Assess your policy.

Youth Risk Behavior Survey

The YRBS: An Accurate Report on Student Activities

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is a biennial (odd years) and anonymous student survey (grades 6-12) that helps schools keep a finger on the pulse of what’s happening with their students’ physical, emotional, and psychological health. Its statistics, charts, and other data report not only on student trends in exercise but also on texting and driving, drinking, vaping and drug use, bullying, social media use, and other behaviors. For examples of the data the YRBS reveals, view our recent fact sheets.

If your school is not already participating in the YRBS survey, it should. Without school participation in the survey, Delaware is at a significant disadvantage for public health planning and surveillance. If your school is among those selected to participate, please do so. You’ll help to ensure continued prevention funding as well as ongoing progress in addressing negative behaviors and their consequences. It’s all with the goal of ensuring brighter, healthier futures for our children.

Learn more about the survey at cdhs.udel.edu.

Learn More About the YRBS

Email us to request a presentation about the YRBS and its importance to your school. Simply fill out the form below and the Division of Public Health will contact you to discuss.

Healthy students

Resources for developing healthier student habits:

Learn about organizations that are making America’s next generation a healthier generation, state by state. They can help with everything from policy decision-making and student wellness to smarter cafeteria menus and playground practices to student recognition programs and more. These proven resources engage and unite school staffs, parents, and communities in continuously improving learning environments for students.

Benefits

Great plans. Great results. Wellness benefits all Delaware schools.

Here in Delaware, our schools are implementing a number of effective plans to keep our children healthy, with excellent results. Take a look below to see what other schools and districts are doing. We can all learn from and share with each other, to the benefit of all our students.

Strategies

Professional development tools to help build strategies: