PARENT WELLNESS GROUP

"PARENT WELLNESS GROUP"

Highpoint’s Commitment to Health and Wellness

At Highpoint, part of our school culture is encouraging families to live a healthy and balanced lifestyle, one that includes nutritious eating, regular exercise, and mindfulness practices. We want our students to grow up with strong bodies, bright minds, and happy hearts, empowering them to make positive, lifelong choices for their well-being.

Recognizing that this goal can be challenging, we’ve launched a "Parent Wellness Group" to support our community on this journey. Together, we’re building a culture of wellness that benefits not only our students but also their families and the broader school community.

PLEASE JOIN OUR "PARENT WELLNESS GROUP" (PWG)

The Parent Wellness Group (PWG) will meet once a month to share ideas that support Highpoint’s wellness initiative. During these meetings, members will collaborate on ways to promote and encourage healthy habits among all Highpoint families, focusing on the Monthly Wellness Topics listed below. Meetings will be held either in person or via Zoom, ensuring that all members can participate conveniently. In addition, all Highpoint parents will be invited to attend monthly presentations and activities designed to inspire, educate, and strengthen our community’s commitment to health and well-being.

We look forward to getting to working together and getting to know all our members!

PWG CO-CHAIRS:
Mrs. Yaglin Sensat Medina
Mrs. Sachy Gordillo

Check out some of our previous Newsletters below!

NOVEMBER PWG NEWSLETTER

Click the IG icon to view our Instagram Page and see the latests posts, resources, and healthy lifestyle ideas!

CLICK LINKS BELOW TO ACCESS GREAT INFORMATION!

AT-HOME FAMILY ACTIVITIES

INGREDIENTS TO AVOID IN PANTRY

CHOCOLATE TREAT RECIPES

ORGANIC GARDENING CLASSES ARE INCLUDED IN OUR PROGRAM!
As part of our school’s mission, we strive to teach students from Kindergarten through 8th Grade the value of consuming and enjoying sustainable, plant-based fresh fruits and vegetables. Our Organic Gardening classes, taught by an environmentalist from Florida International University, offer students a meaningful, hands-on learning experience that connects them directly to nature.

Through this program, students develop environmental awareness, responsibility, and patience as they grow their own healthy foods. The garden serves as a living classroom, integrating lessons across science, math, and nutrition, while fostering a deeper understanding of the natural world and sustainable living practices. By cultivating their own fruits and vegetables, students not only learn where food comes from but also build lifelong habits that promote wellness and respect for the environment.

VALUABLE STUDIES ON UPF's:

HArVARD HeALth STUDIES

STANFORD MEDICINE STUDIES

Since healthy eating is part of our school's mission, we strongly discourage our students from bringing "ultra-processed foods" (UPF) inside their lunch boxes. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrial formulations of food substances that have undergone extensive processing and typically contain multiple ingredients, including additives, preservatives, and artificial flavors.

In our quest to teach our students about healthy eating, for on-campus school events, birthday parties, or school field trips, we WILL NOT allow the following: soft drinks, sugary juices, regular cupcakes with dyes in frosting, donuts, packaged desserts, frozen meals, or candies of any kind. Although we appreciate donations from our parents, if these sugar UPF food or drink items are sent to school, they will be returned

THESE ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS (UPF) CONTAIN EXCESSIVE ADDITIVES, PRESERVATIVES, CORN OILS, SYNTHETIC FOOD DYES/COLORINGS, ADDED SUGARS, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CANOLA OIL, or EXCESSIVE SODIUM. These ingredients may affect their health, their energy levels, their focusing and their concentration.
These include:

Soft drinks
Fruit Drinks
Processed meats (e.g., hot dogs, chicken nuggets)

Breakfast cereals

Instant coffee

Margarine
Instant noodles
Packaged snacks (e.g., chips, cookies)
Frozen meals
Ready Meals
Frozen Meals
Instant soups

These food dyes and colorings listed below have been linked to numerous health concerns and illnesses, particularly in children and sensitive individuals:
Synthetic Food Dyes to AVOID!
1. Red 40 (Allura Red AC) -is Linked to hyperactivity, allergies, and possible immune system issues. Found in soft drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks, Fruit Loops, Trix, CapN Crunch Cereals, Skittles, Starburst and Gummies, Doritos, cheese-flavored chips, cakes, cookies, cupcakes, donuts, Pop Tarts, certain Frozen Treats.
2. Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) - May cause hyperactivity and allergic reactions, particularly in those sensitive to aspirin. Found in sugary sodas, Sports/Energy drinks, Doritos, Cheetos, Mac and Cheese, M & Ms, Gummies, Donuts, Sour candies and Cake mixes.
3. Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) - Has been associated with potential allergic reactions and hyperactivity. Found in cheese-flavored snacks, sodas and fruit-flavored drinks, Sports/Energy drinks, Cupcakes, Donuts, Puddings and Gelatin Desserts, Processed Cheese products.
4. Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) - Some studies suggest it may affect nerve cells. Found in Sports/Energy drinks, blue colored cake and cupcake icing, ice pops and Slushies, some medications and supplements
5. Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) - Some animal studies indicate potential cancer risks. Found in colored candy and gum, certain ice creams and fozen desserts, processed snacks and chips.
6. Green 3 (Fast Green FCF) - Less commonly used but has been linked to bladder tumors in animal studies. Found in green jellybeans, candy (such as M & M's), gum, sports drinks and certain ice creams.

Natural but Potentially Harmful Colorings:
1. Caramel Coloring (Class III & IV) - Found in soft drinks and processed foods, may contain 4-MEI, a potential carcinogen.
2. Titanium Dioxide (E171) - Used in candies and processed foods, including cakes and cupcakes, has raised concerns about gut health and inflammation.
3. Annatto - A natural dye from the achiote tree, but some people experience allergic reactions to this.

Better Alternatives to add color to foods:
1. Beet juice (for red/pink)
2. Turmeric (for yellow)
3. Spirulina (for green/blue)
4. Paprika or annatto (for orange)

RECOMMENDED SNACKS:

Fruits & Veggies:
1. Fresh Fruit Cup
2. Fruit Kabobs - Skewers with strawberries, melon, and pineapple.
3. Watermelon Pizza - Sliced watermelon topped with yogurt and berries.
4. Apple Nachos - Thinly sliced apples sprinkled with granola.
5. Veggie Cups - Individual cups with carrots, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and hummus.
6. Sliced Avocados - put on fresh salads and with hummus
7. Green Salads mixed with sliced carrots, avocado, quinoa, spinach, kale, peas, etc. - Salmon and other proteins can be added.

Snacks & Finger Foods:
1. Whole Wheat Mini Sandwiches - Turkey, cheese, or peanut butter & banana.
2. Cheddar or Goat Cheese & Crackers - Use whole grain crackers with cheese cubes.
3. Baked Sweet Potato Fries - A fun, nutritious alternative to regular fries.
4. For special occasions only: Low sugar mini-muffins, mini cupcakes with minimal quantity of white frosting only, small oatmeal cookies and small sugar free Pops.

Dips & Spreads:
1. Greek Yogurt Dip - Serve with fruit or whole-grain pretzels.
2. Guacamole & Salsa - Paired with whole-grain tortilla chips.
3. Hummus & Pita Chips - A protein-packed snack.
4. Fresh strawberries dipped in Cottage Cheese or Ricotta Cheese - Protein Packed superfood

Drinks:
1. Water
2. Fruit-Infused Water - Water flavored with oranges, strawberries, or cucumbers.
3. Smoothies - Blend yogurt, banana, berries, and a splash of low-fat milk and water
4. 100% Fruit Juice (Diluted) - NOTE: Always mix with water to reduce sugar content.

Desserts:
1. Fresh Fruits
2. Yogurt Parfaits - Layer Greek yogurt, granola, and fruit.
3. Banana Ice Cream - Frozen bananas blended into a creamy treat.
4. Homemade Popsicles - Made with real fruit and yogurt.
5. Dark Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries - A little sweetness with antioxidants.

DRINKS:
Zico 100% Coconut Water
Aura Bora Original Flavors Variety Pack Herbal Sparkling Water
WAJU Natural Strawberry Sparkling Water
Spindrift Sparkling Water, 4 flavor variety pack
Caliwater - Organic Peach Mango Water

NOTE: Although natural peanut and almond butter are considered healthy snacks, we have deleted them from these lists due to peanut allergies.

VENDING MACHINE.
Below are the only snacks and drinks that we will be allowing inside our vending machines. Although they should not be replacing fruits or natural products, they don't contain dyes, additives, preservatives, or an excessive amount of unhealthy ingredients:

SNACKS:

That's It Natural Fruit Bars (Mango, Cherry or Banana)
88 Acres Seed and Oat Bar (variety pack)
LULU Plantain Chips
TERRA Sweet Potato Chips
Siete Potato Chips (variety)
Kibo Veggie Chips (variety)
Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers
Coconut Oil Sweet Potato Chips
Off The Eaten Path Variety Pack Veggie Crisps
Herr's Baked Original Potato Crisps
Cassava Strips Sea Salt Chips
Stacy's Pita Chips (Simply Naked only)
Lays Kettle Cooked Chips (40% Less Fat only)
Snapz Crunchy Apple Chips