This fall, staff from more than 160 schools convened for San Diego Unified’s inaugural District Wellness Institute. The effort was part of the District Wellness Initiative to support the health and well-being of all students, families and staff. Each school’s designated wellness coordinator engaged in a full day of learning to explore strategies for student and staff wellness, proper nutrition, health education, regular physical activity, social emotional well-being, and safe school environments. As part of the District Wellness Initiative, all schools complete an annual wellness assessment to identify areas of improvement and develop an action plan for addressing the school’s health needs. During the Institute, community partners and district staff highlighted opportunities and resources to support wellness strategies for school communities. The Wellness Institute was coordinated by the Department of Nursing & Wellness and national partner Alliance for a Healthier Generation, with generous support from Kaiser, UnitedHealth Care and California Schools VEBA.
“We’re thrilled to have had the opportunity to bring together so many of our school wellness champions, district leaders and incredible community partners for this exciting event,” said District Wellness Supervisor Kate McDevitt. “There is power in our collective work. As we move forward, it’s important to ensure that students are helping to lead this wellness effort, and organizing activities for peer-to-peer education. We hope to see many students, parents and community partners joining us at the table as we continue to build a culture of health in our district.”
To get involved in our District Wellness Initiative, please visit https://www.sandiegounified.org/health-and-wellness or contact Kate McDevitt, District Wellness Supervisor at wellness@sandi.net.
