Wellness

Physical Education

Whispering Winds promotes healthy lifestyle choices. Physical education is a part of our school day, every day. Physical education is different than recess. Not only is physical education a requirement per Florida Statutes, it is also important to teach healthy lifestyle choice for long-term health and wellness benefits. All children are required to participate in physical education classes. Children with disabilities will be given adaptive physical education options. Any child who has an injury must have a doctor’s note explaining the extent of the injury and noting what the child may be able to do, and the length of time the injury is expected to last. As an example, a child with an injured wrist may still be able to walk during physical education time.

Nutrition

Breakfast and lunch are available at the school cafeteria. We are a part of the National School Lunch Program and depending on your income, your child may be eligible for free or reduced price breakfasts and lunches. You will be given an application with your enrollment packet. Please fill it out, whether or not you believe your family will qualify for free or reduced price lunches.

Whispering Winds supports good nutrition choices. Please do not send candy, soft drinks, or “junk food” to school with your child. Research indicates that “above and beyond socioeconomic factors, diet quality is important to academic performance. This association is important to children’s future educational attainment and herewith future income, socioeconomic status, and health.” (Florence, et al, 2008).

TV/Video Games

Did you know?

• Academic achievement may be negatively related to over-all time spent playing video games. Studies have shown that the more time a kid spends playing video games, the poorer is his performance in school. (Anderson & Dill, 2000; Gentile, Lynch & Walsh, 2004)
• Video games may also have bad effects on some children’s health, including obesity, video-induced seizures. and postural, muscular and skeletal disorders, such as tendonitis, nerve compression, carpal tunnel syndrome.
• When playing online, your kid can pick up bad language and behavior from other people, and may make your kid vulnerable to online dangers.
• A study by the Minneapolis-based National Institute for Media and the Family suggests that video games can be addictive for kids, and that the kids' addiction to video games increases their depression and anxiety levels. Addicted kids also exhibit social phobias. Not surprisingly, kids addicted to video games see their school performance suffer. (Raisesmartkids.com)
• Children with a television in their room are less likely to attend college?
• Children who watch more than 2 hours of television each day are more likely to drop out of school, have lower employment prospects, and are more likely to use drugs, than those who watch less than 2 hours per day, regardless of IQ.