Please be reminded of the following lunch time procedures:
Kindly inform all persons that deliver food of these procedures. If you have any queries please contact Mrs. Vasquez
At Hummingbird Elementary School, we believe that healthy children learn better. When students get enough sleep, eat nutritious foods, stay active, and develop healthy habits, they are better able to concentrate, manage their emotions, and succeed both in and out of the classroom.
As part of our commitment to student well-being, we encourage families to partner with us in promoting healthy lifestyle habits at home and at school.
Healthy Habits for Growing Mind
Sleep:
• Preschool (3–5 years): 10–13 hours each day (including naps)
• Elementary (6–12 years): 9–12 hours each night
Physical Activity:
Children are recommended to enjoy at least 60 minutes of active play or exercise every day, whether through sports, outdoor play, dancing, biking, or other fun activities. We also highly recommend that they get ample opportunities to play outdoors daily.
Healthy Eating:
A balanced diet helps fuel growing bodies and developing brains. Encourage meals and snacks that include:
• Fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains
• Lean proteins
• Water instead of sugary drinks whenever possible
Mental Wellbeing:
Practicing kindness, gratitude, mindfulness, and healthy ways of managing emotions helps children build resilience and confidence.
Healthy Screen Habits:
Screen time should not replace sleep, physical activity, homework, reading, family time, or outdoor play.
Recommended recreational screen time:
Children ages 2–5 years
• Aim for no more than one hour per day of high-quality recreational screen time.
• Whenever possible, adults should watch and interact with children while using media.
Children ages 6 years and older
Rather than focusing only on the number of hours, ensure that recreational screen time does not replace:
• adequate sleep,
• daily physical activity,
• homework,
• reading,
• family interaction,
• outdoor play, and
• other healthy activities.
Creating screen-free time, especially during meals and at least one hour before bedtime, helpschildren develop healthy lifelong habits.
Healthy Snacks at School:
Healthy snacks provide students with the energy they need to stay focused and engaged
throughout the school day. Our goal is not to eliminate treats, but to encourage balance,moderation, and healthier choices. Our Healthy Eating School Snack Guidelines were developed with input from our students and
teachers and continue to guide the foods we encourage at school. We invite you to support this initiative by packing nutritious snacks. By working together, we
can help our students build lifelong healthy habits that support their health, learning, and overall well-being.
References
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Media Use Guidelines and Family Media Plan.
https://www.aap.org
• American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Recommended Amount of Sleep for
Pediatric Populations. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2016.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Physical Activity Basics for Children
and Adolescents. https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity
• World Health Organization (WHO). Guidelines on Physical Activity, Sedentary
Behaviour and Sleep for Children Under 5 Years of Age.
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550536
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity Guidelines for
Americans (2nd Edition). https://health.gov