Wellness Committee

In the spring of 2019, the Roosevelt PTA voted to add a Wellness Committee to its PTA as an official advocacy group for our children. The Wellness Committee will find ways to cultivate a healthier environment at Roosevelt such as adding filtered, outdoor, water bottle filling stations, offering healthier snacks at Popcorn Fridays, planning activities around our school gardens, nutritional and mindful health education and much more. If health and wellness is your passion, particularly when it comes to our children, we hope you’ll join us!

What we’ve accomplished so far:

Established a dedicated Wellness Committee
Assisted the Green Team in adding Recycling/Trash/Compost signage in the cafeteria and outdoor eating areas
Secured PTA approval and funds for three outdoor Flowater filtered water bottle filling stations. -2019 & 2021 & 2023
Supports the SMMUSD Wellness Policy and CA Legislation on Nutrition.
Created positive change at Roosevelt to ensure adherence to the District Wellness Policy and State Nutrition Standards.
Educated parents through Facebook Parent Community Group posts and the Teddy Times on Wellness related Events and school lunch options.
Helped spread the word on how to “Opt Out” of chocolate milk in the cafeteria (See below if you missed that one!)
With Roosevelt site funds and PTA funds, purchased paper towel holders and mister water sprayers to allow for kids to clean up their mess during nutrition and lunch. – 2020
During Pandemic hosted a Zoom Dance-A-Thon, organized a wellness speaker, and a cooking class for families. -2021
Created the Jog-a-thon Event 2021 and continue to host Roosevelt Fun Run annually
Improving cafeteria environment with wall murals. Donated by former Roosevelt Parent and Artist: Mosa Tanksley (in progress)
Brings questions and concerns about children’ mental and physical wellness and safety to Site Administrators.
Advocated for PTA to fund Wellness Speaker or Event each school year for all families. -2022
Advocating at District level for additional shade in future design plans.

district wellness policy

Did you know SMMUSD updated their Wellness Policy? Our committee will find ways to cultivate a healthy environment at Roosevelt while working with this policy.
View District Wellness Policy →

opt-out of chocolate milk

Did you know that students who eat in the cafeteria can choose chocolate milk when they go through the line? You can “opt out” of chocolate milk and your child will only be permitted to take the low fat white milk. Simply email fns@smmusd.org and let them know you don’t want your child to have chocolate milk. Please include your child’s student ID and school site, Roosevelt.

PAHF (PARENTS ADVOCATING FOR HEALTHY FOOD)

Our committee also participates on a Santa Monica parent volunteer group, PAHF (Parents Advocating Healthy Food). It is a district wide group of parents with representatives from each school who meet once a month and focus on improving the cafeteria offerings. Their goal is to get more kids eating in the cafeteria, as long as there are healthy choices, as the district loses over one million dollars a year on food services. After researching the issue and working with the district it was recommended that more “scratch meals” were needed in order to increase the number of students choosing a cafeteria lunch. It was also determined that updated kitchen equipment was needed to accomplish this goal. With PAHF leading the charge, the district bought new equipment for some sites and are now making and distributing about one scratch meal a week. Visit their website here to learn more: https://pahfmovement.org.

Join our committee!

Your ideas, positive energy, and talents are wanted and deeply appreciated! Please join us in our quest for Wellness for all students and families at Roosevelt! From Advocacy to Event Planning, School Beautification and Campus Improvement, there’s plenty of ways to contribute your many talents on this team. Email our Wellness Committee.

School Site HEAT Recommendations:

• Keep classroom lights off, heat generating appliances off, and utilize ceiling fans in classrooms that have them.

• Encourage students to wear cool clothing.

• Ensure student access to water and make sure students stay hydrated.

• Share cool spaces with colleagues.

• Monitor students and watch for adverse effects from the heat and seek help from the school nurse, health office specialist or athletic trainers for students or staff who display symptoms of dehydration, heat exhaustion or other health concerns.

• Minimize exerting activities and ensure that there is a post PE cool down period of at least 10 minutes prior to returning to the classroom following any strenuous activity in the warm weather.

• Implement “Inclement Weather Schedules” and use caution with allowing all outdoor activities when it is 82-92 degrees and above.

• Encourage students to sit in shaded areas whenever possible when outdoors and provide rest opportunities.

• Utilize spray bottles for misters outside