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Health & Wellness

We are dedicated to nurturing the holistic well-being of every child, understanding that physical, mental and emotion health are vital to their success and fulfillment. We strive to create a culture of wellness that transcends the classroom and becomes an integral part of our school community.

Our approach to wellness is built on integration and collaboration between the education and health sectors. Guided by the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model, we focus on enhancing each child’s cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development.

This student-centered framework emphasizes the strong connection between health and academic achievement, the community’s role in supporting schools, and the importance of evidence-based practices.

Headshot of Rachel Sanchez

Contact:
Rachel Sanchez
School Dietitian &
Wellness
Team Leader

978-216-0461
ext.187

Community Engagement
  • Community groups, organizations, and local businesses create partnerships with our school, share resources, and volunteer to support student learning, development and health-related activities which  benefits all students and families.

  • School, students and families can contribute to the community through service-learning opportunities, and by sharing school facilities with community members.
Employee Wellness
  • Fostering school employees’ physical and mental well-being protects school staff, which helps to support students’ health and academic success. School staff serve as powerful role models for students which in turn increases their attention to students’ health and overall wellness.

  • Work environments that:
    • support healthy eating
    • adopt active lifestyle,
    • are tobacco-free
    • manage stress
    • avoid injury and exposure to hazards

  • Lead to healthy school employees who are more productive and less likely to be absent
Environmental Action & Safety
  • Environmental Action refers to the school's commitment to robust composting and recycling, along with thriving and resilient local community living. Activities incorporate the collaboration and recognition of The Green Team, Groundwork Lawrence, Green Streets, and other local and state entities.

  • Physical school environment promotes learning by ensuring the health and safety of students and staff. This includes the school buildings and their contents as well as the land on which the school buildings stand and the areas that surround them.
Family Engagement
  • Families and school staff work together to support and improve the learning, development, and health of students. 

  • Family Engagement is a shared responsibility
    • school staff are committed to making families feel welcomed, engaging families in a variety of meaningful ways
    • families are committed to actively supporting their child’s learning and development. 

  • This relationship reinforces student health and learning: at home, in school, in out-of-school programs, and in the community
Health Education
  • Health Education helps students acquire the knowledge, attitudes and skills they need for making health-promoting decisions, achieving health literacy, adopting health-enhancing behaviors, and promoting the health of others.

  • Instruction topics include
    • Mental and Emotional Health
    • Healthy Relationships
    • Substance Abuse and Misuse
    • Physical Health and Hygiene
    • Nutrition and Balanced Eating, Public
    • Community and Environmental Health
    • Personal Health  
    • Sexual Health (Grades 5-8 only)
Nutrition Environment and Services
  • The school nutrition environment provides students with opportunities to learn about and practice healthy eating through available foods and beverages, nutrition education and messages about food in the cafeteria and throughout the school campus

  • School nutrition services provide meals that meet federal nutrition standards for the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, and accommodate the health and nutrition needs of all students.
    • School meals in Massachusetts are available at no cost to families.

  • The Whole School community supports a healthy school nutrition environment by promoting healthy foods and beverages, encouraging participation in the school meal programs, role-modeling healthy eating behaviors, and ensuring students have access to free drinking water throughout the school day.

  • School meals provide nutrient variety essential for growth and development, exposure to diverse menu options and reduce family stress around school day meal planning.
    • Healthy school day eating has been linked to improved learning outcomes which supports students in reaching their potentials.
Physical Education and Physical Activity
  • We create environments that offer many opportunities for students to be physically active during school, before and after school, and with staff, family and community involvement.

  • Physical education provides instruction designed to develop motor skills, knowledge and behaviors for healthy active living, physical fitness, sportsmanship, self-efficacy, and emotional intelligence.

  • A well-designed program provides the opportunity for students to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime.
Social Emotional Climate
  • Social Emotional Climate refers to aspects of students’ educational experience that influence their social and emotional development. 

  • The social and emotional climate of our school impacts student engagement in school activities; relationships with other students, staff, family, and the community; and academic performance.

  • A positive social and emotional school climate is conducive to effective teaching and learning, which in turn promotes health, growth, and development by providing a safe and supportive learning environment.
Student Counseling, Psychological and Social Services
  • Preventive and intervention services support the mental, behavioral and social-emotional health of students,  promoting success in the learning process.

  • Services include psychological, pshycoeducational and psychosocial assessments; interventions to address psychological, social and academic barriers to learning, and referrals to school and community support services as needed

  • School-employed certified school counselors, school psychologists and social workers provide services, collaborating with referred  community support services to reinforce learning and align interventions
Student Health Services & Nurses’ Corner
  • Nursing and school health services connect students, families, staff, community and healthcare providers to promote the healthcare of students and a healthy and safe school environment.

  • Health services intervene with actual and potential health problems such as providing first aid and emergency care/assessment, and planning for the management of students’ chronic conditions.

  • Wellness promotion and preventive services along with student, parent and staff education complement the care coordination services.

  • Integrated services include the LFDCS Food Allergy Protocol and Circle of Support