Gilpin School Health Survey

4^th - 12^th Grades

05/15/2008 - The Gilpin County schools will be surveying their students, 4th grade through 12th grade, to receive data to guide the implementation of its School Wellness policy (ADF). The surveys, currently available on our website at www.gilpinschools.org, are three separate documents for elementary, middle school, and high school.

  The school board promotes healthy schools by supporting student wellness, good nutrition, and regular physical activity as part of the total learning environment. We have adopted health standards and are in the process of evaluating our health curriculum for both schools. The surveys will provide data for us to make informed curricular decisions and also provide us with base-line data to help us determine the impact of policies and programs. Questions are based on a federal education survey. The Boulder Valley School District has been conducting these same surveys (every two years) since 2002.

  The Gilpin County School District surveys will be distributed to every student in the corresponding grade levels, with exception of those families who choose to opt-out, therefore creating a large enough population for statistical analyses. Our principals are sending home letters including opt-out information for those parents who choose to not have their children participate. The surveys will be distributed to students before the end of the year. A public summary will be available later on. Analysis of the surveys will be conducted by the Gilpin County Public and Environmental Health Services, Jennifer Lavely, Public Health Director. Comments and suggestions on the surveys, in writing, are welcomed by Ms. Lavely at jlavely@co.gilpin.co.us.

  Samples of some of the questions which appear on the elementary survey include: “When you ride a bicycle, how often do you wear a helmet?” and “Have you ever tried smoking, even one or two puffs?” At the middle school level, questions that are asked include, “How often do you wear a seat belt when you’re in a car?” and “Have you ever been in a physical fight?” In the high school, the questions pertain more to the possibility of our students participating in drugs, sexual activity, violence, etc. Again, the surveys are accessible through our home page at www.gilpinschool.org.

  We are constantly evaluating our students’ knowledge and understanding. We do this in many ways and with many types of assessments. Assessments can be teacher approved, school approved, district approved, or state mandated. Because of the nature of surveys, we want to notify parents of their right to opt-out. This approach is meant to communicate our intent and purpose while being respectful of family values.