Annual Notifications

In compliance with Public Act 232, dated July 21, 2004, bids will be advertised and, in addition, will be posted on the Lowell Area Schools website.  The bid announcements  are located on the Business Office page of the district website.  

District
Alto Elementary
Bushnell Elementary
Cherry Creek Elementary
Murray Lake Elementary
Middle School
High School
Unity High School

2024-2025 Behavior Report
2023-2024 Behavior Report
2022-2023 Behavior Report
2021-2022 Behavior Report
2020-2021 Behavior Report

Guidelines have been established so that the District can comply with Federal regulations for protecting individuals against exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other infectious materials which can cause Hepatitis B and /or HIV viruses. A plan has been designed to identify likely situations where staff members could be exposed, to describe how such situations can be minimized, and the ways in which exposure will be managed. Part of the federally mandated procedures include a requirement that the District request permission from the parents of the student who was bleeding to consent to be tested for HBV and HIV. This information would then be provided to both the exposed employee and the treating physician to determine proper medical treatment.

Bullying Policy 5517.01

Child Find activities are provided by Lowell Area Schools to assure we are meeting the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). IDEA requires the evaluation and identification of all students ages 0-25 who are suspected of having a disability that may impact their educational performance and who may require special education and/or related services. This includes students with disabilities who are homeless or are wards of the state and children with disabilities attending private schools, regardless of the severity of the disability. If you feel your child may have a disability that interferes with their ability to succeed educationally, please contact your child’s building principal or the Student Services Office at (616) 987-2516.

The Michigan Sports Concussion Law went into full effect on June 30th, 2013, and was recently amended in October of 2017.  The sports concussion legislation requires all coaches, employees, volunteers and other adults involved with youth athletics to complete concussion awareness training every three years, or more frequently as determined by DHHS.  The law also requires Lowell Area Schools to provide educational materials on sports concussions to parents/guardians and obtain signatures acknowledging receipt to keep on record.  Lowell Area Schools provides the Parent & Athlete Concussion Information Sheet to all new enrollees to obtain the signed acknowledgment.  We encourage parents and student-athletes to visit the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website to read about the new law and for additional information.

In accordance with Federal Law, the Board of Education prohibits the use, possession, concealment, or distribution of drugs by students on school grounds, in school or school-approved vehicles, or at any school-related event. Drugs includes any alcoholic beverage, anabolic steroid, dangerous controlled substance as defined by State statute, or substance that could be considered a "look-a-like" controlled substance.

Compliance with this policy is mandatory for all students. Any student who violates this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, in accordance with due process and as specified in the student handbooks, up to and including expulsion from school. When required by State law, the District will also notify law enforcement officials.

The District is concerned about any student who is a victim of alcohol or drug abuse and will facilitate the process by which s/he receives help through programs and services available in the community.  Students and their parents should contact the school principal or counseling office whenever such help is needed.

Emergency Drills 2023-2024
Emergency Drills 2022-2023 

Pursuant to Section 4 of the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.234, (the “FOIA” or the “Act”) the Lowell Area School District, (the “District”), issues this written public summary of the following:

How to Submit Written Requests to the District
The District requires individuals or entities to submit FOIA requests in writing. FOIA requests may be mailed to the following address:

FOIA Coordinator
Lowell Area Schools
300 High Street Lowell, MI 49331

An individual or entity may also make a request via email to Dustin Cichocki or fax a request to (616) 987-2511.

Please review the following checklist to ensure a timely and accurate response to a request:
a. Make sure the correspondence is addressed to the “FOIA Coordinator” and includes the proper address and/or fax number.
b. Clearly state that the request is being made for a public record(s) pursuant to the “Freedom of Information Act” or the “FOIA.”
c. Describe the public record(s) requested in sufficient detail so that it can be more easily identified and located.
d. Describe the subject matter of the public record(s) requested and, if possible, the approximate date that the public record(s) was created.
e. Clearly state the manner in which you prefer the District to provide the public records, such as: paper copies, non-paper physical media, email, etc. (please note, all requests must be within the technological capabilities of the District).
f. You can stipulate that public records be provided on non-paper, physical media, electronically mailed, or otherwise electronically provided in lieu of paper copies. If the requested public records are available on the Lowell Area School’s website and the response includes the website address, then any request for paper format or other form, such as electronic form, may result in additional charges.

How to Understand the District’s Written Responses
When the FOIA Coordinator receives a written request for a public record, the FOIA Coordinator, or his or her designee, shall, in not more than five (5) business days after the District receives the request, respond to the request in one of the following ways:
a. Grant the request.
b. Issue a written notice to the requestor denying the request.
c. Grant the request in part and issue a written notice to the requestor denying the request in part.
d. Issue a written notice extending, for not more than ten (10) business days, the period during which the District shall respond to the request.

Deposit Requirements
If the estimated cost of responding to a request exceeds $50.00, the District may require a good faith deposit of 50% to be submitted before the request is processed. Once the good faith deposit is submitted, the District will process the request. The balance of the cost of the request must be paid before copies may be picked up, mailed, or delivered. Good faith deposits and fees charged for responding to FOIA requests may be mailed to the following address:

FOIA Coordinator
Lowell Area Schools
300 High Street Lowell, MI 49331

Fee Calculations
Please review the Fee Itemization Form, which provides a line-by-line summary and explanation of the fees that the District may charge in response to a request, pursuant to Section 4 of the Act (MCL 15.234(1)).

Avenues for Challenge and Appeal
If the requestor believes the fee estimated or charged for the request exceeds the amount permitted under the District’s procedures and guidelines or Section 4 of the Act, the requestor must submit to the Superintendent a written appeal for a fee reduction that specifically states the word "appeal" and identifies why the requestor believes the required fee exceeds the amount permitted under the District’s procedures and guidelines or Section 4 of the Act. If the requestor disagrees with the District’s final determination, the requestor may, after exhausting internal administrative remedies, commence a civil action in Circuit Court where the Lowell Area School District is located for a fee reduction. The civil action must be filed within 45 days of the District’s final determination to deny a request pursuant to Section 10(1)(b) of the Act. 3.

Any written response denying a request for a public record, in whole or in part, is a final determination to deny the request or portion of that request. A requestor may file an appeal with the Superintendent or may seek judicial review of the denial, pursuant to Section 10 of the Act (MCL 15.240). A requestor may receive attorneys’ fees and damages pursuant to the Act if the Court determines that the District has not complied with Section 5 (MCL 15.235) of the Act and orders the disclosure of all or a portion of a public record. 

For additional information please review our Policies and Guidelines.

TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964
 TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION AMENDMENT ACT OF 1972
 TITLE II OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT OF 1990
 SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973
 AGE DISCRIMINATION ACT OF 1975

Section I
Any person believing that the Lowell Area Schools or any part of the school organization has inadequately applied the principles and/or regulations of (1) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, (2) Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972, (3) section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, (4) the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and (5) Title II of the Americans with Disability Act Rights of 1990 may bring forward a complaint, which shall be referred to as a grievance, to the local Civil Rights Coordinator at the following address:

Dustin Cichocki, Director of Human Resources
300 High Street
Lowell, MI 49331
(616) 987-2500

Liz McCall, Director of Special Education
300 High Street
Lowell, MI 49331
(616) 987-2500

Section II
The person who believes a valid basis for grievance exists shall discuss the grievance informally and on a verbal basis with the local Civil Rights Coordinator, who shall in turn investigate the complaint and reply with an answer to the complaint with in five (5) business days.  The complainant may initiate format procedures according to the following steps.

Step 1 - A written statement of the grievance signed by the complainant shall be submitted to the Local Civil Rights Coordinator within five (5) business days of receipt of answers to the informal complaint.  The coordinator shall further investigate the matters of grievance and reply in writing to the complainant within five (5) days.
Step 2 - A complainant wishing to appeal the decision of the Local Civil Rights Coordinator may submit a signed statement of appeal to the Superintendent of Schools within five (5) business days after a receipt of the conclusion, and respond in writing to the complainant with ten (10) business days.
Step 3 - If unsatisfied, the complainant may appeal through a signed, written statement to the Board of Education within five (5) business days of receiving the superintendent’s response in step two.  In an attempt to resolve the grievance, the Board of Education shall meet with the concerned parties and their representative within forty days of the receipt of such an appeal.  A copy of the Board’s disposition of the appeal shall be sent to each concerned party within ten (10) days of this meeting.
Step 4 - If at this point the grievance has not been satisfactorily settled, further appeal may be made to the Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202.

Inquiries concerning the nondiscriminatory policy may be directed to:

Director, Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education,
Washington, D.C. 20202

The local Coordinator, on request, will provide a copy of the district’s grievance procedure and investigate all complaints in accordance with this procedure.

A copy of each of the Acts and the regulations on which this notice is based may be found in the Civil Rights coordinator’s office, which is located at our Administrative Building at the above address.

If your family lives in any of the following situations:  shelter, motel, vehicle, campground, on the street, or other inadequate accommodations, or doubled up with friends/relatives because you cannot afford housing, contact our Homeless Coordinator.  

McKinney-Vento Information

Lowell Area Schools is committed to maintaining an educational environment in which all individuals are treated with dignity and respect, free from discrimination and harassment. The District shall not discriminate on the basis of  race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), disability, age (except as authorized by law), religion, military status, ancestry, or genetic information (collectively, "Protected Classes") in its educational programs or activities.  The District shall fully comply with all applicable federal and state civil rights statutes. Discrimination, retaliation, and harassment are prohibited whether occurring at school, on District property, in a District vehicle, or at any District-related activity or event.

The District does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual assault, in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and its regulations, including in admission and employment. 

Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to the District’s Title IX Coordinators, the U.S.Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both.  The District’s Title IX Coordinators are:

Dustin Cichocki
Director of Human Resources
(616) 987-2500
300 High Street
Lowell, MI 49331

Inquiries related to Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicap, should be directed to:

Liz McCall
Director of Special Education
(616) 987-2500
300 High Street
Lowell, MI 49331

To report information about conduct that may constitute sex discrimination or harassment or make a complaint of sex discrimination or harassment under Title IX, please refer to the Grievance Procedure portion of the district website.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:

• The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the school receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal [or appropriate school official] a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
• The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Parents or eligible students may ask the school to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the school principal [or appropriate official], clearly identifying the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
• The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the school has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. [Optional] Upon request, the school discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.  [NOTE: FERPA requires a school district to make a reasonable attempt to notify the parent or eligible student of the records request unless it states in its annual notification that it intends to forward records on request.]
• The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the School to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA are:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605

Michigan Virtual University Course Catalog

What is a personal curriculum?
The personal curriculum (PC) is a process to modify specific Michigan Merit Curriculum (MMC) high school credit requirements and/or content expectations based on a student’s unique learning needs and post-secondary goals. It is designed to serve students who want to accelerate or go beyond the MMC requirements and students who need to individualize MMC requirements to earn a high school diploma.

Who may request a personal curriculum?

• The parent/guardian of a student for whom a personal curriculum is sought
• The student, if the student is of the age of majority
• An emancipated minor 
• A teacher who is currently teaching the student (who currently teaches in, or whose expertise is in, a subject area proposed to be modified by the PC, or who is determined by the principal to have qualifications otherwise relevant to developing a PC)
• A school counselor or school employee qualified to act in a counseling role.

If the request for a PC is made by the student’s parent/legal guardian or, if the student is at least age 18 or is an emancipated minor, by the student, the school district shall develop a PC for the student pursuant to the parameters outlined in 380.1278b(5).

When may a personal curriculum be requested?
If the student has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), the personal curriculum request may be submitted prior to 9th grade. If the student does not have an Individualized Education Program (IEP), the personal curriculum request may be requested after the student has completed 9th grade.

State of Michigan law requires that schools and day care centers that may apply pesticides on school or day care property must provide an annual advisory to parents or guardians of students attending the facility.

Please be advised that the Lowell Area Schools utilizes an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to control pests.  IPM is a pest management system that utilizes all suitable techniques in a total pest management system with the intent of preventing pests from reaching unacceptable levels or to reduce an existing population to an acceptable level.  Pest management techniques emphasize sanitation, pest exclusion, and biological controls.  One of the objectives of using an IPM approach is to reduce or eliminate the need for chemical application of pesticides.  However, certain situations may require the need for pesticides to be utilized.

As required by State of Michigan law, you will receive advance notice regarding the non-emergency application of a pesticide such as an insecticide, fungicide or herbicide, other than a bait or gel formulation, this is made to the school or day care grounds or buildings during this school year.  Please note that notification is not given for the use of sanitizers, germicides, disinfectants or anti-microbial cleaners.  In certain emergencies, such as an infestation of stinging insects, pesticides may be applied without prior notice to prevent injury to students, but you will be notified following any such application.

Advance notification of pesticide applications, other than a bait or gel formulation, will be given by at least 2 methods.  The first method will be by posting at the main entrance to the school, which is located at Main office of the respected building.  The second method will be a posting in a public, common area of the school or day care center, other than an entrance.  We will post in the buildings break area.

Please be advised that parents or guardians of children attending the school or day care center are entitled to receive the advance notice of a pesticide application, other than a bait or gel formulation, by first class United States mail postmarked at least 3 days before the pesticide application, if they so request.  If you prefer to receive the notification by first class mail, please complete the form below and return it to our office.

Please be advised that parents or guardians of children attending the school may review the schools' Integrated Pest Management program and records of any pesticide application upon request.

Advanced Notification Request

Indoor Air Quality
Lowell Area Schools has taken a proactive approach to indoor air quality at all of our school buildings by using monthly walk-through assessments.  Observation is made for water incursion and fungal growth, as well as for odor detection.

Asbestos Management
Our school has implemented an asbestos management plan that was approved by the Michigan Department of Public Health on July 31, 1989.  This plan details the response actions that the district has taken regarding asbestos-containing materials found in our schools.  The plan is available for inspection at our Administration Office, 300 High Street, during normal business hours.  We are confident that the proper management of asbestos-containing building materials will protect human health and the environment.  Please direct questions or concerns regarding asbestos to the Director of Operations, (616) 987-2514.

Lowell Area Schools, as an educational institution that receives funds under Title I Part A., hereby notifies all parents that you may request information regarding the professional qualifications of your child’s classroom teacher including:

• whether the teacher has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade level(s) and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
• whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived;
• the baccalaureate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree;
• whether your child is provided services by Title I para-educators and if so, their qualification.

Those requesting this information may do so by contacting:

Director of Human Resources
300 High Street, Lowell, Michigan 49331
(616) 987-2500

Board Policy 2416

Board Policy 5771

The Board of Education has charged school authorities with the responsibility of safeguarding the safety and well-being of the students in their care. In the discharge of that responsibility, school authorities may search school property such as lockers used by students or the person or property, including vehicles, of a student, in accordance with the following policy.

School Property
The Board acknowledges the need for in-school storage of student possessions and shall provide storage places, including desks and lockers, for that purpose. Where locks are provided for such places, students may lock them against incursion by other students, but in no such places shall students have an expectation of privacy as to prevent examination by a school official. The Board directs the school principals to conduct a routine inspection at least annually of all such storage places. In the course of any search, student’s privacy rights will be respected regarding any items that are not illegal or against Board policy.

The Board also authorizes the use of canines, trained in detecting the presence of drugs or devices, when the Superintendent has reasonable suspicion that illegal drugs or devices may be present in a school. This means of detection shall be used only to determine the presence of drugs in locker areas and other places in the school where such substances could be concealed. Canine detection must be conducted in collaboration with law enforcement authorities or other certified organizations and is not to be used to search students unless either a warrant or parental permission has been obtained prior to the search.

Student Person and Possessions
The Board recognizes that the privacy of students or his/her belongings may not be violated by unreasonable search and seizure and directs that no student be searched without reasonable suspicion or in an unreasonable manner. The extent of the search will be governed by the seriousness of the alleged infraction, the student's age, and the student's disciplinary history.  This authorization to search shall also apply to all situations in which the student is under the jurisdiction of the Board.

Reasonable suspicion that a communication device has been used to violate District policies or administrative guidelines shall be subject to disciplinary action and may result in the communication device being confiscated.

Administrators are authorized to arrange for a breath-test instrument, according to the Superintendent's guidelines, for the purpose of determining if a student has consumed an alcoholic beverage. It is not necessary for the test to determine blood-alcohol level, since the Board has established a zero tolerance for alcohol use.

Except as provided below, a request for the search of a student or a student's possessions will be directed to the principal. S/He shall attempt to obtain the freely-offered consent of the student to the inspection; however, provided there is reasonable suspicion, s/he may conduct the search without such consent. Whenever possible, a search will be conducted by the principal in the presence of the student and a staff member other than the principal. A search prompted by the reasonable belief that health and safety are immediately threatened will be conducted with as much speed and dispatch as may be required to protect persons and property.

Search of a student's person or intimate personal belongings shall be conducted by a person of the student's gender, in the presence of another staff member of the same gender, and only in exceptional circumstances when the health or safety of the student or of others is immediately threatened.

The principal shall be responsible for the prompt recording in writing of each student search, including the reasons for the search; information received that established the need for the search and the name of informant, if any; the persons present when the search was conducted; any substances or objects found and the disposition made of them; and any subsequent action taken. The principal shall be responsible for the custody, control, and disposition of any illegal or dangerous substance or object taken from a student.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Lowell Area Schools does not provide student accident insurance. As a service to students and their families, Lowell Area Schools has coordinated the ability for families to purchase student accident insurance plan through FIRST AGENCY, INC for any enrolled child in grades Pre-K thru 12, at a very nominal cost. The most basic plan covers your child while s/he is at school and involved in supervised events (classroom, halls, playground, etc), this plan excludes interscholastic sports.  Plan purchase options allow for additional coverage, up to 24-hours including interscholastic sports, except grades 9-12 football. Some plans offer extended dental coverage as well. Grade 9-12 football participation insurance is available as a stand-alone policy.

These plans would be a secondary plan to any other insurance your child may be covered by. If you have no insurance at all for your child, this is an opportunity to provide at least a base level of coverage during the school day. Plans will provide benefits for medical expenses incurred because of an accident. Deductibles and co-pays in your current health plan require you to pay out of pocket costs first, while these plans allow benefits to be applied to your deductible or co-pays. 

For more information, or to purchase coverage, contact First Agency.  Lowell Area Schools makes no warranty or guarantee on this insurance plan and is not responsible in the administering of benefits.  We are not an agent of FIRST AGENCY, INC and receive no compensation, of any kind or form, for offering this service or any enrollments generated.  Coverage does not become effective until the later of the date premium is received at First Agency, Inc. or the first day of school.  All questions regarding this coverage should be directed to First Agency, Inc. at (269) 381-6630.

No Child Left Behind (Section 9528) requires student directory information be made available to military recruiters and institutions of higher education.  Under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a student or his/her parents may request that information not be released without prior written consent.  FERPA Requirements:  Lowell Area Schools may disclose, without consent, “directory” information defined as a student’s name, grade level, address, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance.  However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them.  Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA.  The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a newsletter, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school.  Because of the difficulty of keeping a multitude of mailing lists, most schools will honor a parent or student’s blocking request by blocking the release to any and all requesters.  Parents and students will thus need to know if blocking the release of information for one purpose will result in a student’s information being blocked for all purposes.  To make this request, please contact your student’s school office in order to opt out of directory information release.

Title IX Training Materials (after August 1, 2024)
Title IX Training Materials (prior to August 1, 2024)

In order to protect students and employees who choose not to use tobacco from an environment noxious to them and potentially damaging to their health, the Board prohibits the use of tobacco on District premises (owned or leased), in District vehicles, at all school-sponsored events and in all school buildings owned and/or operated by the District.

For the purpose of this policy, “use of tobacco product” means any of the following: the carrying by a person of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or other lighted smoking devices; the inhaling or chewing of a tobacco product; the placing of a tobacco product within a person’s mouth; and/or the smoking of electronic, “vapor,” or other substitute forms of cigarettes, clove cigarettes or other lighted smoking devices for burning tobacco or any other substance.

Tobacco promotional items that promote the use of tobacco products, including clothing, bags, lighters, and other personal articles are not permitted on school grounds, in school vehicles, or at school-sponsored events.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

Board Policy 7440.01

In order to protect Board property, promote security and protect the health, welfare, and safety of students, staff, and visitors, the Board of Education authorizes the use of video surveillance and electronic monitoring equipment on school property, and in school buildings and school buses. Information obtained through video surveillance/electronic monitoring may be used to identify intruders and persons breaking the law, Board policy, or the Student Code of Conduct (i.e., it may be used as evidence in disciplinary actions and criminal proceedings).

The Amendments to Act 1976 PA 399, Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act, R 325.1016 stipulates that school districts must disclose information regarding water quality in our school buildings that are not supplied by municipal water supplies.  The Lowell Area Schools conducted the required water testing at all school buildings every school year.  All water samples taken show results in our buildings to be compliant with Act 1976 PA 399, Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act, and R 325.10416.  Questions can be directed to the Director of Operations at (616) 987-2514.

Lowell Area Schools makes a commitment to create a healthy school environment for its students and staff.  This commitment is important for the development of healthy eating habits, as well as essential to developing healthy lifestyles.  These developing lifestyles will be the foundation of maintaining health and wellness throughout one’s life.  During the school year, staff and children are encouraged to walk more and eat healthier.

Through the adoption by the Board of Education of Lowell Area Schools’ Wellness Policy 8510, healthy lifestyle messages will continue to be integrated into the school day through physical education and health and nutrition education.  Parents and staff will be encouraged to celebrate birthdays and holidays using healthy snacks and not to use food as a reward system.  Supporting healthy fundraisers is another way to create awareness about good nutrition and its benefits for all persons.  These positive messages about nutrition and the importance of regular daily exercise will give students the tools they need to adopt a healthy lifestyle for themselves as part of our community.  Together as we work toward healthier and more active lives, our collective support of this program will enhance the living environment of our community.