Lancaster, VA – Students in Lancaster County will see significant, healthy changes when the new school year begins. Lancaster County Public Schools has made important updates to its School Wellness Policy to ensure students have increased access to water throughout the school day. This change will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the health and well-being of students throughout the division and their overall academic success, with 1,020 students covered under the policy revision and having access to the support they need to stay hydrated during the day. By prioritizing the well-being of its students, Lancaster County Public Schools is setting an excellent example for other school divisions to follow.
This updated policy was developed in collaboration with the Rev Your Bev campaign, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) healthy hydration campaign, and its statewide, award-winning high school program, Y Street.
Research has consistently proven that water is the healthiest beverage choice as it fuels your body. Since 2013, Rev Your Bev and Y Street have devoted and sustained efforts to spread healthy hydration messages to help individuals make drinking water a habit and improve Virginians’ overall health. Lancaster County Public Schools’ revised wellness policy now aligns more with Rev Your Bev’s best practices. The policy ensures students have access to free and safe drinking water throughout the school day, with teachers modeling healthy hydration. Approved water bottles are also allowed, and water sources will be regularly maintained for hygiene and safety.
VFHY and Y Street are committed to supporting Virginia school divisions’ efforts to maintain a positive, healthy learning environment and serve as a resource for Virginia schools. “The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth is thrilled to have Lancaster County Public Schools join as a partner to support healthy hydration. Adequate water consumption is a great habit for youth to develop and a key component to creating positive health outcomes,” said Executive Director Marty Kilgore.
The updated policy is expected to increase students’ water consumption and promote healthy hydration. Lancaster County Public Schools joins the growing list of divisions with comprehensive wellness policies prioritizing water access and promotion, becoming Rev Your Bev’s 16th partner. “Lancaster County Public Schools is excited to partner with Rev Your Bev to bring awareness of the importance of students and staff consuming water throughout the school day. We realize that revising our Wellness Policy regulations regarding the importance of consuming water and having the materials and items needed, such as signage, water bottles, cups, dispensers & coolers, accessible to all students and staff will have a major increase in our students and staff drinking more water and less sugary drinks,” says Stephanie Carter, Director of Food Service.
Lancaster County Public Schools will receive free resources such as water bottles from VFHY as part of its partnership with Rev Your Bev to support the division in implementing its updated policy.
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About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)
Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity. VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.
