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Students in Cumberland County will see some changes when the new school year begins. Cumberland County Public School has made some updates to its School Wellness Policy to ensure that students have increased access to water throughout the school day. This change will affect 1,233 students in the county. 

This updated policy was developed in collaboration with the Rev Your Bev campaign, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) healthy hydration campaign, and its statewide, award-winning high school program, Y Street.

Research has consistently proven that water is the healthiest beverage choice as it acts as fuel for your body. Since 2013, Rev Your Bev and Y Street have devoted and sustained efforts to spread healthy hydration messages to help individuals make drinking water a habit and improve Virginians’ overall health. Cumberland County Public Schools’ revised wellness policy now aligns more with Rev Your Bev’s best practices. By including a provision for drinking water to be made available “before” the school day, the division has expanded the access and availability of drinking water throughout the school day.

VFHY and Y Street are committed to supporting Virginia school divisions’ efforts to maintain a positive, healthy learning environment and serve as a resource for Virginia schools. 

“The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth is thrilled to have Cumberland County Public Schools join as a partner to support healthy hydration. Adequate water consumption is a great habit for youth to develop and a key component to creating positive health outcomes,” said VFHY Executive Director Marty Kilgore.

The impact of the updated policy is expected to increase students’ water consumption and promote positive, healthy hydration. Cumberland County Public Schools joins the growing list of divisions with comprehensive wellness policies that prioritize water access and promotion, becoming Rev Your Bev’s 14th partner. Bernice Ford, the Director of Special Education, says, “The updated policy marks a significant step towards fostering a healthier school environment by ensuring that students have easy access to water throughout the day. This change not only supports our commitment to student well-being but also encourages better hydration habits, which are essential for both physical health and academic performance. By providing more water options, we are empowering our students to make healthier choices that can positively impact their overall health and learning outcomes.”  

Cumberland County Public Schools will receive free resources such as water bottles from VFHY as part of its partnership with Rev Your Bev to support the division in implementing its updated policy.