School Wellness
SICS promotes a healthy school environment by supporting physical and emotional health. Student wellness contributes to and impacts academic success. Over the next year, our new wellness team will be reviewing our former plan and updating it to meet the current needs of our students. This plan will focus on ways we can foster healthy nutrition, regular movement and selfcare. The team will keep members of our SICS community up to date with our progress.
Vaping info:
E-cigarette and vaping basics shared with parents, student athletes and SICS athletic
staff on November 15, 2023
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Among youth, e-cigarettes, especially the disposable kind, are more popular than any
traditional tobacco product.
According to the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey, more than 2 million U.S. middle
and high school students reported using e-cigarettes in 2021, with more than 8 in 10 of
those youth using flavored e-cigarettes.
A recent CDC report says disposable e-cigarette use has increased 1,000% among
high school students and 400% among middle school students since 2019.
E-cigarettes heat liquid nicotine (extracted from tobacco), add flavorings and other
chemicals to create an unfiltered aerosol that is inhaled. THC, the chemical from
marijuana that causes euphoria, is present in many e-liquid cartridges.
Health professionals believe there are three main reasons e-cigarettes may be
particularly enticing to young people.
1.Many teens believe vaping is less harmful than smoking.
2. E-cigarettes have a lower per-use cost than traditional cigarettes.
3. Youth and adults find the lack of smoke appealing. With no smell, e-cigarettes
reduce some of the stigma of smoking.
E-cigarettes contain high levels of Nicotine
1.Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development.
2.E-cigarettes contain numerous harmful substances besides nicotine.
3.Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes
in the future
Why is vaping a major health concern?
There are many unknowns about vaping, including what chemicals make up the
vaped aerosol and how they affect physical health over long term usage. Physical
concerns with e-cigarette exposure are listed below.
Delayed brain development
Lung damage
Asthma
Cough
Shortness of breath
Eye irritation
Headache
Irritated throat
Nausea
Decrease in physical activity
Health goals for all our students
Educate yourself on the negative effects of vaping
Make safe decisions with your health and support your peers in making good
decisions
Discuss any substance use concerns you have with our school support staff
These websites have specific information on e-cigarette concerns and prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/index.htm
https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/helping-teens-quit/talk-about-vaping/vaping-facts
“GET OUT”
'Even with these cold days, it is important for our wellness to get outside. Sunshine provides much-needed Vitamin D to promote bone health and support physical healing. Natural light and fresh air help us sleep better and increase our alertness. While skiing and sledding are fun in the winter, walking with a friend is a great outdoor activity. Check the outside temperature to help make safe clothing decisions with your children. You might even get your teen to put on a coat!
Nurse Kathleen
