about shab
The School Health Advisory Board (SHAB) assists with the development of health policies in Arlington Public Schools and the evaluation of the status of school health, health education, and the school environment and health services. There are 9 members of the SHAB Leadership Team and 20 members overall, plus 25 SHAB workgroup members, which include APS and County Staff, Parents, Students, and Community Members.
In order to keep kids healthy, at school, learning and growing we have a tremendous opportunity to leverage the passion, expertise and personal investment of APS staff and health expertise within the Arlington County School Health team, together with actively involved parents and community members from all over the district. We want to focus on those conditions that are driving absenteeism. We want to lift up best practices in our schools and share those practices with other schools. We have completed surveys of parents and PTA officers, community members and APS staff to ensure we are being responsive to the interests and concerns of our members. We need to advance strategies that find ways to engage our entire county in school wellness and Whole Child efforts.
WHY SCHOOL HEALTH?
1. Healthy students are better learners
Healthy students are better on all levels of academic achievement: academic performance,
education behavior, and cognitive skills and attitudes.
2. Schools can influence eating and physical activity behaviors
Students spend much of their time at school, may eat as many as 2 out of 3 meals per day,
and may get much of their physical activity at school.
3. Healthy, successful students help build strong communities
Investing in the health of students contributes to healthy communities in the future.
4. All students deserve the opportunity to be healthy and successful
Providing access to healthy foods and physical activity plays an important role in the academic achievement of students.
We have formed Workgroups that are responding to some of the greatest needs in school health:
To learn more, please view the annual reports, videos and slide shows presented to the Arlington County School Board:
In order to keep kids healthy, at school, learning and growing we have a tremendous opportunity to leverage the passion, expertise and personal investment of APS staff and health expertise within the Arlington County School Health team, together with actively involved parents and community members from all over the district. We want to focus on those conditions that are driving absenteeism. We want to lift up best practices in our schools and share those practices with other schools. We have completed surveys of parents and PTA officers, community members and APS staff to ensure we are being responsive to the interests and concerns of our members. We need to advance strategies that find ways to engage our entire county in school wellness and Whole Child efforts.
WHY SCHOOL HEALTH?
1. Healthy students are better learners
Healthy students are better on all levels of academic achievement: academic performance,
education behavior, and cognitive skills and attitudes.
2. Schools can influence eating and physical activity behaviors
Students spend much of their time at school, may eat as many as 2 out of 3 meals per day,
and may get much of their physical activity at school.
3. Healthy, successful students help build strong communities
Investing in the health of students contributes to healthy communities in the future.
4. All students deserve the opportunity to be healthy and successful
Providing access to healthy foods and physical activity plays an important role in the academic achievement of students.
We have formed Workgroups that are responding to some of the greatest needs in school health:
- Assessment and Best Practices
- Nutrition and Physical Activity
- Allergy and Anaphylaxis
- Socio-Emotional Health
- Environmental Health and Asthma
- Screentime in School
To learn more, please view the annual reports, videos and slide shows presented to the Arlington County School Board:
