Aug. 26--SANFORD -- As Lee County students made their way back to school Thursday for the first day of class, local, state and national officials encouraged parents and teachers to ensure children have a safe and healthy start to the 2011-2012 year.
Mary Hawley Oates, supervisor of school nurses for Lee County Schools, said health and fitness will be a primary focus throughout the district as the school year begins. PE teachers recently finished two days of training for the SPARK program, a statewide initiative aimed at encouraging students to increase physical activity throughout the day and make healthy lifestyle choices.
Oates said the district's School Health Advisory Committee will also focus on tackling childhood obesity this year, including the second annual Family Health and Fitness Fair in the spring.
"Some of our schools have set a standard of only healthy snacks, as opposed to cookies, chips or candy, brought to school," Oates said. "We encourage parents to model healthy choices by sending snacks and lunches that are healthy. That will follow along with what our PE teachers will be emphasizing with the SPARK program."
The local goal is in line with a national emphasis on healthy habits for children. United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently issued a bulletin encouraging schools to ditch fat, sugar and sodium in favor of more fruits, vegetables, grains and low-fat dairy.
Vilsack also praised the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act that Congress passed in 2010, which is aimed at reducing childhood obesity, improving nutrition in schools and increasing access to healthy food for low-income students.
"If we want to build a strong economy and win the future, then we also need to win the race to educate our kids," Vilsack said in the bulletin. "And that means making sure that the 32 million kids who eat school lunches every day are fueled by the healthiest, most nutritious food we can provide."
Trooper Chris Black with the North Carolina Highway Patrol said traffic safety is of paramount importance as students head back to school, especially for teenage drivers.
Black said he would encourage teenage drivers to avoid any distractions while driving as they head back to class, especially texting while driving. Students that carpool should also insist all passengers wear seat belts, he said.
"If they're car pooling, (teenage drivers) are responsible for the other people in the car also," Black said.
Drivers can expect the Highway Patrol to have an increased presence near schools for the first few days of class, he said, as automobile and school bus traffic increases. Black said all drivers should be aware of school buses on the road and pay close attention children that may be near the street as they wait for the bus.
North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper issued a release last week urging parents to discuss safety issues with their children as they return to school, including reviewing Internet safety guidelines, updating a list of emergency contacts and ensuring they know who is authorized to pick them up from school in case of an emergency.
"Giving our children a safe and successful school year means more than buying the right pencils and backpacks," Cooper said in a statement. "A few simple steps can give parents some peace of mind so they can focus on helping their kids learn."
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