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Well • ness - noun

Well • ness - noun

Definition: Physical well-being, especially when maintained or achieved through good nutrition and regular exercise.
 

Coronado Unified School District is dedicated to the health and well being of each and every student.  We cannot do it alone, and with your help we will be successful in the important development of each student's mind and body. The District plays a critical role in curbing the epidemic of childhood health issues like obesity, heart disease, and Type II diabetes which are directly associated with poor nutrition and inactivity. Please see our links below for information on healthy snacks and fundraising.

 

In 2004, Congress passed a law requiring every school district that particpates in the National School Lunch Program to create a local wellness policy by the start of the 2006-07 school year. The District’s local wellness policy applies to every school in the District. The policy will assist schools in improving the health of students by promoting physical activity and nutritious food.

 

Intersted in joining our wellness committee? Click here to learn more or contact our Wellness Committee Chair, Amanda Tarantino, at amanda.tarantino@coronadousd.net.
CUSD Wellness Committee Meetings

CUSD Wellness Committee Meetings

  • SY 2018-19
 
  • SY 2019-20
 
  • SY 2022-23
 
  • SY 2023-2024
 
  • SY 2024-2025
 
  • SY 2025-26
             - Meeting Agenda 10/30/2025; Meeting Minutes 10/30/2025
             - Meeting Agenda TBA; Meeting Minutes TBA
             - Meeting Agenda TBA; Meeting Minutes TBA
             - Meeting Agenda TBA; Meeting Minutes TBA
Wellness Committee Goal 2025-26

Wellness Committee Goal 2025-26

Increase student involvement in the school nutrition program. 

The Wellness Committee’s goal for the 2025–2026 school year is to increase student involvement in the school nutrition program by incorporating student feedback into menu planning and meal promotion to promote healthier eating habits and increase student participation in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs by an average of 5% overall.
 
What we are doing:
  • Establishing the Student Nutrition Advisory Council (SNAC): A student-led council will be formed to provide feedback, suggestions, and insights related to school meals. SNAC will collaborate with the Child Nutrition Department to share data and advocate for meal improvements based on student preferences.
  • Partnering with SNAC on Nutrition Engagement Activities: The council will support and participate in activities such as taste tests, student surveys, plate waste studies, and popularity index assessments. These efforts will help gather measurable feedback and gauge student satisfaction with current menu offerings.
  • Supporting Student-Led Marketing and Outreach: SNAC members will assist in developing marketing campaigns to promote healthy meals. This includes creating food review videos, making school announcements, and designing promotional flyers to encourage peers to try new, nutritious foods.
  • Enhancing Peer Nutrition Education: SNAC will work alongside Child Nutrition Services to play a role in educating fellow students about the importance of healthy food choices. Through peer-to-peer engagement, we aim to make nutrition education more relatable and impactful.
 
Why we are doing this:
  • To improve meal quality through student feedback. The Child Nutrition Department will use input from SNAC to make informed improvements to school meals. This student-centered approach will help ensure that meals are not only nutritious but also appealing and relevant to student tastes.
  • To increase student meal participation by offering meals that reflect student preferences creating more opportunities for students to try new, healthy foods.
  • To raise awareness of healthy meal options with the support of SNAC-led promotions, students will become more aware of the benefits of school meals and be encouraged to make healthier food choices.
  • To expand access to nutrition education through supporting broader nutrition education goals by embedding learning opportunities within events, campaigns, and student-led efforts across the school community.
Wellness Committee Goal 2024-25

Wellness Committee Goal 2024-25

Increase overall access to nutrition education districtwide. 

For the 2024–2025 school year, our Wellness Committee is committed to increasing the access to nutrition education both in classrooms and school cafeterias—by 50% districtwide.
 
What we are doing:
  • Enhancing Nutrition Education in Classrooms: We are expanding age-appropriate, evidence-based nutrition education by providing resources to, and working in close collaboration with district teachers and the district’s Registered Dietitian and Child Nutrition Department.
  • Increasing In-Person Nutrition Presentations: Students will benefit from more live nutrition presentations led by the district’s Registered Dietitian and the Child Nutrition Department.
  • Boosting Farm to School Program Visibility: We will elevate awareness of our Harvest of the Month Programs such as our “Try It Tuesday” and “Farm Fresh Friday” promotions through the incorporation of new promotional materials, including flyers and QR codes that offer nutrition facts, farmer profiles, and information about where and how the featured food was grown.
  • Engaging Elementary Teachers: Teachers at the elementary level will be encouraged to actively promote Farm to School initiatives and will have the opportunity to learn about and sample our harvest of the month food items. This will help students feel more confident about trying fresh, local, and organic foods in the cafeteria.
  • Showcasing Local Farming Through Videos: Videos featuring our local farm partners will highlight how crops are planted, cared for, and harvested. These videos will be displayed on digital monitors in school cafeterias for all students to enjoy.
  • Hands-On Hydroponic Farming in Second Grade: All second grade students within the district will participate in hydroponic farming lessons and activities led by the districts Registered Dietitian, combining educational presentations with hands-on experiences to emphasize the value of farm-to-table practices.
  • Expanding Preschool Nutrition Education: Nutrition education will be introduced in the form of hands-on activities at the preschool level throughout the school year to begin building lifelong healthy habits at the earliest age possible.
  • Highlighting the Five Food Groups: Throughout the month of March, all school cafeterias will spotlight the five food groups by introducing new foods, offering take-home recipes, and providing nutrition facts and information at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
 
Why we are doing this: 
  • To increase students’ exposure to nutrition education and build lifelong habits that support healthy eating from childhood through adulthood.
  • To foster healthier choices in cafeterias and throughout the school day, improving student wellness overall.
  • To teach the value of eating local and organic foods, and to promote and support small, local farms through the Farm to School program.
  • To help students understand where food comes from by providing opportunities to plant, nurture, and harvest their own crops using hydroponic methods—connecting them directly to the concept of farm to table.
 
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Wellness Committee Goal 2023-24

Wellness Committee Goal 2023-24

Reduction in the amount of waste generated through the implementation of zero-waste stations districtwide. 

Our wellness committee has partnered with South Bay Sustainable Communities to assist in reducing the amount of food waste generated throughout the district.
 
What we are doing:
  • Providing zero-waste sorting stations at each school site which include share tables, recycling bins, organic bins, and trash bins.
  • Providing all students with grade and age-appropriate training and education on how to use the zero waste stations. 
  • Monitoring the zero waste stations at each school site and providing ongoing training at each site as needed. 
  • Partnering with local food recovery agencies to donate leftover food items to families throughout San Diego County that need it.
  • Encouraging students to utilize the share tables at each school site rather than discarding any whole, packaged, and uneaten food item. 
 
Why we are doing this: 
  • Decrease the amount of methane gas is generated as a result of excess food waste, which will ultimately aid in protecting our planet.
  • Assist families throughout San Diego County who are food insecure and can benefit from the left-over food generated from our cafeterias.
  • Provide awareness and education to students as to what items qualify as recyclable, compostable, or waste. 
 
Wellness Committee Goal 2022-23

Wellness Committee Goal 2022-23

Reduce the amount of single-use plastic water bottles by 50% throughout the district. 

Our wellness committee has partnered with Emerald Keepers to help reduce the amount of single-use water bottles used districtwide.
 
What we are doing:
  • Encouraging staff and students to carry reusable water bottles to school and sporting events.
  • Eliminating the sale of plastic water bottles in the school cafeterias.
  • Providing education about the detrimental effects of plastic water bottles on the environment and our health to students and staff.
  • Encouraging students and staff on school campuses to use the water bottle re-filling stations which are easily accessible at all sites.
  • Discouraging plastic water bottles for class parties, school gatherings, and sporting events.
 
Why we are doing this: 
  • Only 10% of single-use plastics actually reach the recycling bins, the remainder end up in the landfills, oceans, waterways, and drains.
  • The plastic bottles degrade into microplastics over the years.
  • Microplastics end up being consumed by marine life, which kill millions of marine life per year. 
  • Plastic bottles take over 450 years to degrade. These plastics release greenhouse gas emissions which contributes to global temperature change.
  • Many single use plastics contain bisphenol A (BPA) which is known to act as a hormone disruptor in humans.
 
Monthly Newsletters:
Click this link for more information.
Wellness Committee Goal 2018-19

Wellness Committee Goal 2018-19

Decrease recreational screen-time through education and awareness.

Our wellness committee has decided to use the 5-2-1-0 model to help reach our goal for this year. Click here for more information.
 
  • Wellness Newsletters
           - January 2019
           - February 2019
           - March 2019
           - April 2019
           - May 2019
 
           - Brochure- Decrease recreational screen time
           - We will have a special promotion during this week to enhance student awareness of screen time and the effects on the developing mind. See our promotional flyer for more details.
Wellness ASSESSMENT 2019-20: Wellsat 3.0

Wellness ASSESSMENT 2019-20: Wellsat 3.0

School wellness policies are evaluated based on the degree to which they address 67 policy items. These items are categorized into six sections:
  • Nutrition Education
  • Standards for USDA Child Nutrition Programs and School Meals
  • Nutrition Standards for Competitive and Other Foods and Beverages
  • Physical Education and Activity
  • Wellness Promotion and Marketing
  • Implementation, Evaluation and Communication
 
Each policy is rate "0-not mentioned, "1-weak statement," "2-meets or exceeds expectations"
 
The WellSAT will give you two scores: a comprehensiveness score, which reflects the extent to which recommended content areas are covered in the policy; and a strength score, which describes how strongly the content is stated. Both scores range from 0-100, with lower scores indicating less content and weaker language, and higher scores indicating more content and use of specific and directive language. This wellness assessment was tested in 2018 in a sample of 50 school districts around the country and the average comprehensiveness score was 54 and the average strength score was 33. Our district received a comprehensive score of 58 and a strength score of 48. As we have some areas of improvement, we are definitely on the right track to ensuring our district is doing it's part to keep our students and staff healthy. See the link below for a more detailed look of the assessment.