Since 2016, the Roxbury Township Public Schools has been striving to become more sustainable and green in its policies and practices. The Board of Education and administration made the decision to pursue district sustainability and green initiatives by creating and updating various policies that touch on health, wellness, physical activity, and nutrition.

Sustainable Jersey for Schools Logo Part of this has been to become a Sustainable Jersey for Schools certified district and to have each of our seven schools become certified as well. As of August 2018, all seven Roxbury Schools earned Bronze certification within the program and is now striving to attain Silver certification.

Sustainable Jersey for Schools is a certification program for New Jersey public schools that want to go green, conserve resources and take steps to create a brighter future, one school at a time. Launched in fall 2014, they are a non-profit organization that provides tools, training, and financial incentives to support and reward schools as they pursue sustainability programs. Click here to read more about Sustainable Jersey for Schools.

Below are just some of the ways we are promoting health and wellness in Roxbury!

As part of our Sustainable Schools initiative, Roxbury has worked to create and promote physical activity both in and out of school. The Board of Education began this back in 2017 when they adopted two board policies outlining the benefits and importance of healthy living. Both policies have an emphasis on physical activity, health, and overall wellness.

These policies are implemented with recess at our K-6 schools and mini-activity breaks are incorporated into academic lessons throughout the day to improve student performances and to refocus our learners. Members of the staff have received training on how they can use brain breaks to support learning readiness in their classrooms.

A brain break, or a brain energizer, is a physical activity designed to help students stay more attentive and focused throughout the school day by increasing the oxygen flow to the brain and re-energizing the body. Classroom brain breaks are typically short periods of time spent incorporating movement and activity into the classroom.

Here are just a few of the samples shared with our staff:

• The Sid Shuffle
• The Wave
• Toe Tapper
• Thumb War or Peace
• Go Noodle