Student success starts with more than academics. At Van Buren School District, we know students learn best when they have access to healthy food, opportunities to be active, caring adults, and the support they need to grow both inside and outside the classroom. Wellness is part of everyday life across our district, from school gardens and fresh produce to walking trails, mental health resources, and programs that help students and families over extended breaks.

Throughout July, we'll be highlighting the many ways VBSD is working to build a healthier, stronger Pointer community.

One of the newest additions to those efforts is the Pointer Greens Aquaponic Garden. Opened in 2024, the facility grows organic lettuce, herbs, and fresh fish that are served in school cafeterias. Staff members and community members can also purchase products grown at the facility.

Pointer Greens also gives students an opportunity to learn outside the classroom. Students visit the facility on field trips, and those interested in agriculture can participate in internships and apprenticeships while learning about sustainable food production and aquaponics firsthand.

That hands-on learning continues throughout the district. Elementary and middle school students spend time in campus gardens where they learn about nutrition, food science, and where their food comes from. At the secondary level, students can enroll in the plant systems pathway, working in campus gardens, the Van Buren Freshman Academy greenhouse, and the district's aquaponics facility. Many also participate in FFA, where they develop leadership skills while exploring careers in agriculture, Arkansas's largest industry.

The connection between agriculture and nutrition continues in the cafeteria through Harvest of the Month. Each month, the Child Nutrition Department features a fruit or vegetable grown in Arkansas, giving students a chance to taste fresh, seasonal produce while learning about healthy eating. The monthly menu introduces students to a variety of foods, from apples and squash to leafy greens and other locally grown favorites.

Wellness also means making it easy for students and families to stay active. Through Joint User Agreement grants totaling more than $700,000, VBSD has expanded walking trails, tracks, and outdoor fitness stations across the district. These spaces are open to the community throughout the year and provide safe places to walk, jog, exercise, and spend time outdoors.

Supporting healthy schools also means supporting the people who work in them. The VBSD Staff Wellness Program offers district employees fitness classes, wellness challenges, educational sessions, and activities designed to encourage healthy habits and reduce stress.

Student wellness includes emotional health, too. Throughout the year, schools teach the importance of kindness, respect, and inclusion through classroom lessons, counseling services, and school wide activities. Each October, the district's Point Out Kindness campaign and annual Kindness Poster Contest encourage students to make a positive difference in their schools. Certified school counselors are available on every campus to help students work through challenges, and families have access to additional mental health resources through the district and community partners.

For some students, having enough food at home during school breaks can be a challenge. Since 2016, the IMPACT (Meals at Critical Times) program has helped meet that need by providing non-perishable grocery items to eligible families during Thanksgiving, winter break, and Spring Break. School counselors help identify families who can benefit from the program, while generous community donors make it possible for the program to continue serving students year after year.

Each of these programs looks different, but they all support the same goal of helping students succeed. Whether a student is harvesting vegetables in a school garden, trying a new fruit in the cafeteria, walking on a campus trail with family, talking with a school counselor, or receiving meals during a school break, every program reflects the district's commitment to caring for the whole child.

We're proud to share these stories throughout July and recognize the employees, volunteers, families, and community partners who make them possible. Together, they are helping create a healthier Pointer community where every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.