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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – St. Catherine School, recognizing the benefits of a strong school wellness and recently updated their policy during a school in-service for all staff.  “Part of our school mission is to develop the whole child,” states Principal Jason Stangeland, “and encouraging students to eat nutritious foods and exercise at least 60 minutes daily helps them to learn better.”

A school wellness policy is for schools to use as a guide to provide healthy opportunities for students. It is for parents, so they know what to expect from the school, and for students so they are healthy and ready to learn.

Before the school wellness policy was updated the school invited parents to offer comments and be a part of a discussion committee; the school cook was also asked for comments.  St. Catherine School invited Sharon Buhr and Andrea Winter, both licensed registered dietitians at Young People’s Healthy Heart Program at CHI Mercy Health to assist in the revision and to do the staff in-service.

“Physical activity actually changes brain function,” states Winter as she showed pictures of brain activity after a student has done physical activity. Students should do 60 minutes of exercise daily, as recommended by the Center for Disease Control.

Buhr stated that one in three people born after the year 2000 will develop diabetes, and that this can be prevented with healthy eating and exercise.  She noted that North Dakota statistics show that only 5.5% of students eat the recommended amount of fruits and only 1% for veggies.