Wellness Policy
Wellness Policy Overview
District 49's wellness policy and supporting guidelines focus on improving the health of students. Anyone interested in serving on the districtwide wellness advisory council should email wellness@d49.org for additional information.
A sample of the Curriculum Food Request Form is available here.
Nutrition for classroom parties, celebrations, rewards & fundraisers:
- All food items must be store-bought with the nutrition information showing that the product is 100 calories or less, 0 grams of trans fat.
- No candy or sodas are allowed.
- Birthday celebrations with treats must follow the Wellness Policy Guidelines.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables are excluded from calorie and sugar limits.
- Food prepared in a private home may not be served at school to students because knowledge of ingredients, sanitation, preparation, and temperature of food in storage or transit is not available, nor can quality and sanitation standards be controlled.
- Fundraiser guidelines may also be found in the Wellness Policy Guidelines.
Healthy Snack Ideas Under 100 Calories
-
Cascadian Farm Kid-Sized Oatmeal Raisin Bar
- Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Goldfish 100 Calorie Pack
- Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop Sea Salt Popcorn
- 6” Banana decorated with Sharpie and/or stickers
- Stretch Island Fruit Leather
- Applesauce on the Go
- Fruit cups in 100% juice
- Brothers All Natural Fruit Crisps
- Minute Maid Kids + Minis 100% Juice Box
- Trader Joe’s Apple + Banana Fruit Bar
Non-Food Celebration Ideas
- Smencils (smell good pencils)
- Glow Sticks
- Stickers
- Books
- Chapstick
- Post-its in fun shapes
- Stress balls
- Playdough
- Seeds for planting
- Lead a Dance Break
Our commitment to physical activity:
- Physical education is provided in elementary, middle, and high school.
- Strenuous physical activity is not used (e.g. running laps, pushups) as punishment.
- Generally, students should not be required to “sit out” any part of recess as punishment unless there is a safety concern.
- Elementary school students will have a minimum of 30-minutes daily of physical activity. Recess for 1⁄2 day Kindergarten will be determined at those individual buildings.
- Physical activity can include recess, physical education classes, fitness breaks, active classroom activities, exercise programs, or active field trips.
Hunger Free Hotline
Call the hotline at 855-855-4626, statewide, toll-free. Help is just a phone call away for families, seniors, and other individuals who are in need of food assistance anywhere in Colorado. Hunger Free Colorado (HFC) Hotline is a statewide, bilingual toll-free number that connects Coloradans to needed food and nutrition resources. It is a free “one-stop” resource that offers geographically-based referrals to both public and private food assistance programs across the state.
2025/2026 Woodmen Hills Elementary Wellness Success Story
PTA Fun Run
Our annual Fun Run took place on September 18, 2025! This exciting event brought together character education, fitness, and fundraising in a fun and meaningful way. Proceeds from the PTA Fun Run support teacher grants, family literacy initiatives, capital improvements, and a wide range of enriching programs and services that benefit our entire school community.
Brain Breaks
This year marks the thirteenth year of incorporating GoNoodle activity breaks into our classrooms. GoNoodle offers a diverse selection of videos that promote physical activity, many of which are connected to core academic subjects. Families can also create their own GoNoodle accounts to stay active at home!
In addition to GoNoodle, our teachers continue to use NetFlex Kids for brain breaks. NetFlex's mission is to "create educational opportunities through unique sports programming." Students engage in a variety of activities, from dynamic workouts and dance routines to interactive games that are updated multiple times per week. These engaging programs are used daily in all classrooms to keep students energized and focused.
Student Fitness
We were able to purchase new playground equipment using Medicaid funds, including footballs, soccer balls, kickballs, jump ropes, and other recess items. These additions provide students with more opportunities for active play, encourage teamwork and social interaction, and help promote healthy habits through increased physical activity during recess and structured play times.
Staff Fitness
Our district encourages staff wellness through various health incentive programs.
To further support staff well-being, D49 educators receive a discounted gym membership to Active&Fit Direct which includes Well-Being Coaching. Additionally, throughout the year, staff enjoy access to healthy snacks and beverages in the teacher’s lounge, promoting nutritious habits. Recognizing the importance of proper hydration, staff were provided with a new water filtration system funded through UMR, supporting healthier habits and encouraging them to stay hydrated throughout the school day.
School Garden
Our school garden continues to thrive! Last spring, we focused on revitalizing the space, planting vegetables and sunflowers. In the fall, students harvested a variety of squashes and explored science activities using the sunflowers. We are excited to further develop this wonderful outdoor learning resource!
Tornado Hollow Outdoor Classroom
Outdoor classrooms provide a dynamic space for hands-on learning, and the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift toward these innovative environments. Research shows that outdoor learning enhances physical and mental health, cognitive development, attention, and engagement.
Our outdoor classroom, constructed outside the 5th-grade modular building in July 2021, features a timber-bordered area filled with mulch, seating for 30 students using tree stumps, an outdoor whiteboard, and storage for teaching materials. To enhance comfort during warmer months, we added shade sails last summer. These sails are mounted on posts cemented in barrels, allowing for flexibility in placement and decoration with flowers or other embellishments.
Stay tuned for more exciting events and activities as we continue to foster a healthy and vibrant school community!