LINDA LINGLE
GOVERNOR

Hawaii State seal

STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2360
HONOLULU, HAWAII 96804

PATRICIA HAMAMOTO
SUPERINTENDENT
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT    
DATE: 08/14/2007  
TO: All Principals
Complex Area Superintendents
Administrative Services Assistants		 Priority:
CC: Office of Business Services
Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Student Support
Systems Accountability Office		  
FROM: Patricia Hamamoto, State Superintendent
Office of the Superintendent		  
SUBJECT: Wellness  

This is an electronic version of the hard copy memo signed by the Superintendent on 8/14/07.

The United States Department of Agriculture, under Public Law 108-265, Sec. 204, requires each school district participating in the National School Lunch Program to establish a local school "wellness policy."

Board of Education Policy 1110-6 (Health, Wellness, and Safety Policy) states the Department "has the fundamental responsibility to provide a safe and healthy working and learning environment for all public school students, employees, and persons under its jurisdiction."

Wellness Guidelines that implement the Board policy are attached. Each school will need to convene a committee that develops the school's implementation plan. Each school should select a wellness topic to work on, submit it to Dave Randall, and report at the end of this school year on progress. Further details are provided in the Wellness Guidelines. Mr. Randall's contact information is on page 2 of this memorandum.

Wellness, additional information and resources for schools to implement the Wellness Guidelines, will be posted on the DOE website by the end of August for your review.

Wellness is about more than food served on campus. It includes health and nutrition education, physical education, and physical activity outside of P.E. classes.

The wellness guidelines include:

  • Goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that are designed to promote student wellness.
  • Nutrition guidelines for all foods that are available on each school campus, with the objectives of promoting student health and reducing childhood obesity.

Starting January 2008, a school level implementation plan and interactive site will be available.

The major elements of Wellness include:

  • A checklist of core components, nutrition, physical activity standards and health education.
  • Tools, education and reference lists for the implementation of Wellness.
  • Links to agencies providing fiscal and educational support for Wellness.

The Department is committed to fighting obesity in our children. Our obligation is to cultivate a campus environment offering healthy choices and activities.

If you have questions on Wellness, please call:

  • Dave Randall, Coordinated School Health Education Specialist, 733-9141 ext. 329, for School Health Index and Coordinated School Health.
  • Glenna Owens, School Food Services Program Manager, 733-8400, for meals and snacks served on campus, and food and beverages sold on campus.
  • Alice Toguchi-Matsuo or Kenneth Ortiz, Team Nutritionists, Office of Hawaii Child Nutrition Programs, 587-3600 for nutrition.
  • Cathy Tanaka, School Health Coordinator, 586-4437, Department of Health, for grant resources.
  • Donna Ede, Health and Physical Education Specialist, 733-9141 ext. 303, for health, nutrition and physical education.

I look forward to your participation in this effort to improve the health and well-being of all our students and staff.

PH/RGM Attachment