SHAC Sub-Committees

The Newton ISD School Health Advisory Council sub-committees are based on the eight components of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) School Health Model. The SHAC has combined Physical and Health Education into one sub-committee. In addition Counseling, Psychological, and Social Services has been combined with Healthy School Environments to form the Healthy and Safe School Environments sub-committee.

There is a growing body of evidence showing the positive impact of one or more components on student health and learning outcomes. Many school leaders also report that their efforts at coordinating health initiatives result in improved achievement, attendance, less smoking among students and staff, lower rates of teenage pregnancy, increased participation in physical fitness activities, and greater interest in healthier diets.

SHAC sub-committee membership is open to any individual interested in supporting health and wellness through development of coordinated school health programs in the NISD community.

• Family and Community Involvement
  Parents, teachers, administrators, businesses, state, county and local governments and volunteer health organizations all work together to focus attention on student health issues.
• Child Nutrition
  Promotes healthy food choices and provides nutrition education.
• Physical Education/Health Education
  Features activities that emphasize cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and flexibility; encourages the development of lifetime leisure skills; and includes daily physical activity for students. Comprehensive health education curriculum offers age-appropriate, sequential K-12 instruction that includes information on consumer health, community health, environmental health, family life, growth and development, nutritional health, personal health, prevention and control of disease, safety and accident prevention, and substance use and abuse.
• Healthy and Safe School Environment
  Concentrates on mental health, fosters substance abuse prevention, promotes life-skills training and builds problem-solving skills. Enhances physical and social surroundings of students and staff and ensures safe surroundings.
• Health Services
  Includes prevention, education, early detection screenings, interventions and referrals to community services in cooperation with other agencies. Involves nurses in classroom education, staff development, and state and volunteer health organizations.
• Staff Wellness
  Promotes positive role models for students and reduces absenteeism and insurance costs.