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Welcome to Whaler Wellness & Health Education!
“RESPECT, RESPONSIBILTY, & RESILIENCE”
The New Bedford Public Schools are committed to K-12 comprehensive education for all of our Whalers while also subscribing to the whole school community and child (WSCC) approach. This is a fantastic foundational educational experience that pledges a consistent commitment from our staff to deliver encouraging, challenging, enlightening and enjoyable lessons to every child every day. This exciting daily delivery in an effort to encourage and expect every Whaler to evolve into contributing, happy and conscientious members of their communities. The core values of our Health & Wellness program are “Respect, Responsiblity, and Resilience”.
Aligning with Massachsuetts DESE expectations and regulations, all Massachusetts students will develop health and physical literacy through engagement in comprehensive, well-rounded, inclusive, medically accurate, developmentally, and age-appropriate educational opportunities that include health education, physical education, and the development of social and emotional competencies. Students will develop self-efficacy and the agency to lead health-promoting lives and will understand the impact of health-related behaviors on current and future health and overall well-being. Health and Wellness literate students will be prepared to navigate the complexities of our global society by applying health-promoting skills to a variety of situations and recognize their role in shaping health outcomes at the personal, community, and global levels.
Comprehensive health and physical education programming are critical components of a well-rounded education. As the world continues to experience complex health challenges, a comprehensive approach to support the development of healthy students remains a key need today and into the future. The DESE Framework and New Bedford Publisc Schools Health and Wellness curicculum provide a pathway for and continues to encourage all schools to implement educational programming and strategies that enhance students’ mental, emotional, and physical health while recognizing the critical role of school climate and culture on student outcomes. This is achieved through the development of self-efficacy in health- and movement-related skills and knowledge at the student level, and through policies and practices at every school and the district level.
This involves all staff working to address student well-being, such as building social and emotional competencies or managing stress, as well as teaching of skills and information necessary for students to strive to improve health outcomes and health-related behaviors for themselves and in their communities. Staff most directly involved in Comprehensive Health and Wellness and Physical Education programs includes Health/Wellness Educators and Physical Educators, as well as school nurses, school psychologists and counselors, among so many other committed and caring educational staff members collaborating with our Whalers each and every day.
The New Bedford Health & Wellness Department is committed to implementing and utilizing Highly Qualified Instructional Materials (HQIM) and Evidenced-Based Curriculums K-12 that are developmentally and age-appropriate while also providing meaningful cultural and social contexts, taught by professional and passionate licensed Health/Wellness Educators.
Here are the HQIM and Evidenced-Based Curriculums that we currently utilize:
- Grades K-5 > Health Ed. Journeys (Published by CATCH); Rights, Resepct, and Responsiblity; and Zones of Regulations
- Grades 6-8 > Comprehensive Health Skills for Middle School; HealthSmart; and Making Proud Choices!
- Grades 9-12 > HealthSmart
The New Bedford Wellness Advisory Council
New Bedford has assembled a very caring and committed comprehensive community of health and wellness teachers, administrators, nutrition professionals, teachers, students, parents/guardians and community professionals who have a major focus on Wellness opportunities and programs within the schools and amongst the community. The New Bedford Wellness Advisory Council (WAC) will reconvene in the Fall of 2026 (September) once we open our schools and launch the 2026-’27 academic pursuits! More information and meeting notes forthcoming...
A little about Masschusetts Wellness Advisory Councils from DESE:
From DESE Regulations > The purpose of 105 CMR 215.000 is to set standards for the establishment and operation of School Wellness Advisory Committees. These committees are intended to ensure that each public school district has an established group of school staff and concerned community representatives to recommend, review and help implement school district policies addressing school nutrition, nutrition education, physical activity and related issues that affect student health.
Scope and Application As mandated by M.G.L. c. 111, § 223, 105 CMR 215.000 establishes standards for School Wellness Advisory Committees to be established in each school district in the Commonwealth. 215.003: Definitions > Public School District means all public school districts, regional school districts, vocational technical schools, collaboratives and, for the purposes of these regulations, charter schools. Wellness means a process by which individuals move toward optimal physical and mental health, regardless of current health status or disability, by practicing healthy choices within an enabling environment which encourages healthy decision making.
Here is the current Wellness Policy that will be updated in the 2026-27 Academic school year:
NEW BEDFORD DISTRICT SCHOOL WELLNESS POLICY
New Bedford Public Schools values the importance of positive physical, emotional, and mental well-being for our students and staff. The district understands the role that wellness plays in supporting academic success and the impact on our students’ lifelong potential. Therefore, the district will provide developmentally apprOpriate and sequential nutrition and physical education as well as the opportunity for physical activity.
Wellness Council: New Bedford Public Schools (NBPS) will establish a District Wellness Council which allows for the integration of wellness into all aspects of students' educational experiences. The District Wellness Councilwill be comprised of a school committee member, school administrator, food services representative, nurse, community member, parent/guardian and student. The council will meet at least 4 times per year. The Wellness Council will develop a ”Wellness Plan" which will include goals, strategies and best practices related to wellness.
Nutrition Standards for USDA Child Nutrition Programs and Healthier Meals: New Bedford Public Schools will increase meal participation by students, provide quality meals, adhere to compliance, and serve recipes consistent with student satisfaction. The district will assure compliance with USDA nutrition standards "for reimbursable school meals and address access to the USDA School Breakfast.
The district will provide annual training for food and nutrition services staff in accordance with USDA Professional Standards along with extended professional development opportunities and ensure compliance with the District’s ”Protocol for the Prevention and Management of Life Threatening Food Allergies.”
Nutrition Standards for Competitive and Other Foods and Beverage: New Bedford Public Schools aims to encourage healthy and nourishing options and adhere to competitive food regulations while promoting healthy alternatives to processed items, snacks, and drinks. The district will maintain compliance with USDA nutrition standards (Smart Snacks) and the MA Nutrition Standards for all food and beverages sold to students during the school day, including a la carte, in vending machines, in school stores, food served for in-school celebrations and after the school day on school grounds. Free drinking water will be available during meals, throughout the school day and during after—school activities.
Nutrition Education: 46 It is the goal of NBPS to have a district wide approach to health and nutrition curriculum, assuring that each student receives an equitable health and nutrition education. The curriculum will include goals for nutrition education that are designed to promote student wellness and enforce an understanding that the quality of foods consumed affects personal health and performance. All students will receive sequential and comprehensive nutrition education that will be integrated into other subjects beyond health such as science, math, language arts and physical education.
Physical Activity and Recess: New Bedford Public Schools will ensure that students are provided multiple opportunities to engage in physical activity. Schools will strive to provide physical activity in the classroom and throughout the extended school day.
New Bedford Public Schools recognizes that recess is an essential opportunity for physical activity for students and the benefits of recess reach far beyond the playground. Schools will provide a minimum of twenty minutes of recess daily for elementary students as scheduling permits. Recess shall not be required on early dismissal days. Participation in recess shall not be contingent upon satisfactory behavior or academic performance, and recess shall not be restricted or revoked as a disciplinary measure unless there is a threat of harm to the student or others. Recess should be outdoors unless inclement weather or safety concerns prohibit outdoor activities, in which case recess will take place indoors.
Employee Wellness: New Bedford Public Schools highly values the health and well—being of every staff member and strives to create opportunities for staff to model healthy behaviors. The district will comply with local, state, and federal drug, alcohol and tobacco free policies. The New Bedford Public Schools will provide access to and encourage participation in and use of various wellness programs and/or resources such as healthy eating and weight management, physical activity, stress management, tobacco avoidance and cessation and social-emotional health.
Accountability and Evaluation: New Bedford Public Schools is committed to ongoing assessment and evaluation of this policy. The Wellness Policy will be made available to students, families, and the public through our district website. The policy will be updated accordingly by the District Wellness Council using WellSat 3.0 or equivalent to ensure compliance with Federal and State regulations. Source: MASC