Iredell-Statesville Schools School & Family Magazine Fall 2017 | Page 13

Healthy Youth in I-SS
As the new school year is in full swing, we, the SHAC (School Health Advisory Council) along with all
the support services within I-SS, want focus on keeping youth within I-SS healthy and safe. Parents, staff
and the community all play a role in making this happen. One of the best ways we can help students is
to do our part in ensuring that their needs are met and that they are given the tools to achieve success
inside and outside of school. Let’s work together by helping them to make Healthy Choices, form Healthy
Relationships and build Healthy Selves.
1) Healthy Choices
According to research, healthy children learn better (American School Board Journal). Focusing on
nutrition and physical activity programming will show improvement in the classroom. I-SS is committed to
helping youth make healthy choices while at school. Research has also shown that the brain takes until
the mid to late 20’s to complete its development while the body finishes about a decade earlier. Youth
literally look like an adult before their brain is able to fully function as one. This means that many of them
are prone to risk-taking behavior because they are unable to fully think through and process the pros and
cons of decisions. Together we can help youth keep their bodies and brains healthy while preparing them
for adulthood.
2) Healthy Relationships
The peer group will become more important to youth as they age. Parents will always be a pivotal
part of the decision-making process but peers become a driving influence as puberty begins. Talking
about what constitutes a healthy relationship from an early age is very important. By the time they are
in upper elementary school they are already forming boyfriend and girlfriend relationships. “The Talk”
should have happened in various age-appropriate forms ahead of this time. Discussing this subject matter
and your family’s morals and values associated with it are very important. You do not need to give every
medical detail but you should be the first one to discuss this with them before the internet is searched or
someone else brings up what they know in conversation. Expectations for friendships, dating, and physical
boundaries should also be discussed frequently with medical and age-appropriate adjustments.
3) Healthy Selves
Students are fast developing into the adult they are going to be. Trauma, stress, or other events can
affect a child in many ways. To help youth maintain a healthy self I-SS has a group of supporters in their
school. In each school there are caring individuals who are invested in the success of your student. Please
encourage your child to seek out adults they can trust. Someone they can talk to if they feel unsafe or if
they just need to talk. School counselors, nurses, and staff will seek out additional support and refer as
needed. Building our future adult leaders starts with a healthy student now, inside and out.
Our community partners are also committed to the health of our students and their families. We will do
our best to communicate any health-focused events through the district’s social media outlets.
Healthy Youth, Healthy I-SS, Healthy Future
Iredell-Statesville School & Family 11