DoDEA highly values the health and well-being of every staff member and plans and implement activities and policies that support personal efforts by staff to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Each district/school establishes and maintains a staff wellness committee.
Staff wellness programs provide opportunities for the school faculty to engage in a wide variety of leisure time physical activities geared to adult interests and fitness readiness as well as nutrition education, physical fitness education, stress management and weight management.
Contact Information:
DoDEA Health and Wellness Program
4800 Mark Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22350-1400
Schools include nutrition education through the comprehensive (pre-kindergarten through grade 12) Health Education Content Standards and engage in nutrition promotion that is part of not only health education classes, but is also integrated into classroom instruction in subjects such as math, science, language arts, social sciences, physical education and elective subjects. This includes enjoyable, developmentally-appropriate, culturally-relevant, participatory activities, such as contests, promotions, taste testing, farm visits, and school gardens.
Nutrition education activities promote fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, low-fat and fat-free dairy products, healthy food preparation methods, and health-enhancing nutrition practices. An emphasis is placed on caloric balance between food intake and energy expenditure and links with school meal programs, other school foods, and nutrition-related community services.
Health education focuses on health literacy skills with an emphasis on accessing valid nutrition information, analyzing influences such as food marketing, as well as, setting goals and making responsible decisions related to food choices. School nutrition education and promotion includes informational dissemination to students, teachers, parents and other staff.